In October of 2025, Lehigh joined the more than 100 colleges and universities that have adopted the University of Chicago Statement on Freedom of Expression, known as the Chicago Principles. These principles articulate a broad and intrinsic belief in the freedom of expression on campus. At Lehigh, these principles were adopted including a Lehigh Preamble.
Lehigh University Principles on Freedom of Expression Preamble
Lehigh University Principles on Freedom of Expression Preamble
The mission of Lehigh University is to advance learning through the integration of teaching, research, and service to others. We best achieve this mission in an environment in which we all feel valued, welcomed, and respected. We adopt the University of Chicago’s Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression (“Chicago Principles”) as a set of principles we believe are essential to establish foundational guidance for our community. We see this statement as an expression of our shared commitment to academic freedom in the pursuit of the truth and our mission. By adopting this statement, we seek to empower our campus community, including Lehigh University faculty, students, and staff, to debate and deliberate in an open and responsible manner that serves our institutional core values and mission.
The Chicago Statement, coupled with existing University policies which govern freedom of expression for our campus community, our Principles of Our Equitable Community, and our robust culture of inquiry, is adopted to promote open and respectful dialogue on campus, exploration of a plurality of thought, inquiry and expression as part of the Lehigh experience. It is expected that the Chicago Statement will be used as a principled guidepost for future decisions regarding freedom of expression within the University.
History
History
Discussions around the Chicago Principles at Lehigh University began as early as 2018. By September 2022, exploratory discussions on free expression were formally underway under President Helble’s leadership. On January 30, 2024, the Committee on Free Expression began its work in earnest, engaging with more than 30 different groups across the University to gather input. Following this period of consultation, the Committee submitted its formal report on May 7, 2024, recommending that Lehigh adopt the Chicago Statement on Free Expression.
In February 2025, a group was formed to draft a Lehigh University Preamble to the Chicago Principles, which was subsequently presented to the student and faculty senates, as well as the Employee Relations Advisory Committee (ERAC), for review and feedback. The preamble was formally endorsed by the graduate student senate executive board, undergraduate student senate and faculty senate. The process culminated in October 2025 with the formal approval of Lehigh's adoption of the Chicago Principles by Lehigh University’s Board of Trustees.