Welcome

Welcome

At Lehigh we are committed to ensuring that every student, faculty, and staff member thrives in a truly inclusive environment. The Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging (OIEB) plays a central role in advancing A Lehigh for Everyone, a foundational initiative of the university's Inspring the Future Makers Strategy, dedicated to creating a campus where all individuals feel valued, supported and empowered to succeed. OIEB collaborates across the university--partnering with students, faculty, staff, senior administrators, trustees, alumni and community leaders--to foster a culture of belonging, remove barriers to success, and champion equitable opportunites for all. Our work is anchored by our advocacy centers:

  • The Gender, Leadership and Empower Center
  • The Center for Cultural Engagement
  • The Pride Center @LU
  • The Chaplain's Office and the Center for Spirituality and Dialogue
  • The Center for Student Access and Success

For six consecutive years, Lehigh has been recognized for its leadership in equity and inclusion as a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award recipient and a Diversity Champion for 2024-25. We invite you to explore our website, and those of our centers, to learn about the rich community here at Lehigh and all it has to offer you. 

 

Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Plan 2021-2026

Lehigh is committed to being an institution that strives to enhance inclusive excellence and belonging. Our ongoing goal is to ensure that all members of our community feel safe, valued and welcome. We have made important progress in strengthening our ability to listen, learn, adapt, improve, challenge, change and lead. We have much more work to do, and this work will evolve over time. Join us.

Read the plan here.
 

 

Insight Into Diversity 2024 HEED Diversity Champion Logo

We are proud to announce that Lehigh has been selected as a recipient of the INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for a sixth straight year, earning the distinction of Diversity Champion. This is a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion; only a limited number of schools are Diversity Champions, exemplifying visionary leadership in the commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging.  While we are honored to be recognized for the programs and resources we have developed so far, we remain committed to the work that needs to be done as we pursue our goal of becoming an antiracist institution and creating A Lehigh for Everyone.  For more information on the HEED Award and Diversity Champion status, click the respective links.

Meet Dr. Donald Outing

The Army veteran joined Lehigh from The United States Military Academy at West Point and leads institutional efforts to advance Lehigh's work on diversity, equity and inclusion. Read his perspective on Lehigh's efforts to cultivate a more diverse campus.   

Events

Monday, March 24, 2025
Please join The Pride Center staff as we partner with community certified self-defense educators and consultants for an important and timely workshop on safety, self-defense and de-escalation. Participants will learn skills in de-escalation and self defense as well as knowing your rights and engaging with local resources. Open to all Lehigh students, staff and faculty. RSVP Required.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
The MLK Celebration Committee at Lehigh University and the Office of International Affairs Study Abroad present our final film of the Equality and Justice on Screen Film Series. This film is being screened in observance of International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. It looks at how Oxford University responded to the slave trade during the Age of Revolution. Through college archives and interviews, a portrait emerges of the discord the slave trade inflicted on the college and how those issues resonate today. Please stay for post-screening Q& A with the film’s director Oliver St. Clair Franklin, Lehigh’s Antonio Ellison II, Asst Dir. Study Abroad and Dr. John Vilanova, Asst Prof. Journalism & Communication/Africana Studies A free and open to the public event. Tickets at the box office desk at the cinema
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Lehigh University envisions a community where every individual feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. We are committed to fostering a welcoming, engaging, and personal experience for all members of our community. This session will give an update on the initiative's achievements for the year, and an overview of how Lehigh assesses the sense of belonging for our community members. We also want to engage in conversation about what A Lehigh for Everyone means to you. We look forward to seeing you! Future Maker Forum- A Lehigh for Everyone Wednesday March 26 2025 Health, Science & Technology Building Community Room (L185) 12:00-1:30 PM Brown Bag Lunches will be provided. Please RSVP here by March 20.
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