General School Information
Nestled in a historic neighborhood just minutes from Uptown Charlotte, Queens has provided students with transformational learning experiences for more than 155 years. As a private, masters-level university, Queens serves 1,766 undergraduate students in academic programs across the liberal arts and sciences as well as the professional fields of business, communication, nursing, health and education. All degree programs are grounded in a liberal arts core to help students hone their critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. With a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, Queens is known for their student-centered mentality, welcoming southern hospitality, and talented faculty. The university emphasizes active, collaborative learning with a focus on a 21st-century global curriculum that takes students beyond the classroom. With the city of Charlotte as an extended campus, students have the opportunity to launch into abundant internships, community service, and academic partnerships.
All undergraduate students must complete at least one internship. The majority of Queens undergraduates also study internationally during their time there. Queens is where big city meets small school; where self-discovery occurs amid selfless service; where curricula evolves to teach the latest skills all while respecting Queen’s timeless liberal arts core. Queens has created a unique learning environment that doesn’t ask students to choose between ideals and interests but rather invites them to explore both.
Rugby Information
The addition of men’s and women’s rugby to the Queens athletic department lineup was announced in March 2017. Both teams will begin competition in both 15-a-side and 7-a-side competition in the respective seasons starting in the Fall of 2017. Queens Women’s Rugby competed as a club program under the athletics department umbrella from 2017-2019 and secured a record of 36 wins and 13 losses in both 15s and 7s competitions. They were then elevated to NCAA emerging sport status and joined the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association where they competed in Tier II competition and finished their first year of varsity competition with a record of 5-3 overall, including qualifying for post-season playoffs. Queens Men’s Rugby is a club sport, and has participated in Division II earning an overall record of 44-15 including fall 15s, and spring 7s competition. In the 2019-2020 season, they were crowned the USA Rugby Division II collegiate club men’s national champions.  Â
Katie Wurst is the director of rugby, and head women’s rugby coach and Frank McKinney is the head men’s rugby coach. Wurst comes to the Royals with nearly 15 years of coaching experience that spans across youth, college, and professional programs. Collegiately, Wurst has coached at the University of Colorado, the University of Minnesota, Elon University, and the University of South Carolina. At the professional and community level, she served as the national team coach for Lao Rugby Federation, and was a youth coach for Shannon Rugby Football Club in Limerick, Ireland. Wurst has also had an array of positions with USA Rugby. After starting out as a game development officer from 2005 to 2007, she would become the youth development manager from 2007-2009. Currently, she is a coaching course leader and World Rugby coach educator, a role she has held since 2008. Wurst also works as broadcast talent for USA Rugby, and has competed as an athlete for both the Glendale Raptors and Twin Cities Amazons in Women’s Premier League competition.
McKinney also has extensive experience in coaching and playing the sport. He played for Belmont Abbey College in the early 90s earning team captain honors before joining the Charlotte Rugby Club where he was a member of the team from 1993-2008. While with the Charlotte Rugby Club, McKinney won five North Carolina State Championships and three Virginia State Championships. He currently serves as the High Performance Director of North Carolina Youth Rugby Union, and is the head coach for the NC boys all-star program.
Queens University of Charlotte Stats
Tuition and Fees: $35,720
Room and Board: $11,222
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,766
Acceptance Rate: 79%
Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Admissions Deadline: Rolling Admission, Dec. 1 deadline for major merit awards
ACT Requirements (50% Range): 21 – 26 (Test Optional Institution)
SAT (50% range): Critical Reading 520-619, Math 513-600 (Test Optional Institution)
Social Media
Instagram: Men’s: @qumensrugby (https://www.instagram.com/qumensrugby/) Women’s: @queenswrugby (https://www.instagram.com/queenswrugby/?hl=en)
Facebook: Men’s: https://www.facebook.com/QUofCLTMensRugby/ Women’s: https://www.facebook.com/QueensRugby/
Website: Men’s: https://queensathletics.com/sports/mens-rugby Women’s: https://queensathletics.com/sports/womens-rugby
Contact Info: Katie Wurst, Director of Rugby/Women’s Head Coach – wurstk@queens.edu
Information edited from the Queen’s University website, Queen’s University rugby websites, and US News World Report. All photos from queens.edu or queensathletics.com, unless otherwise specified.
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