Image
students with different colored shirts standing in group

Pictured above: Faculty and staff mentors along with student members of the LUSSI family gather ahead of their kick-off to the 2021 cohort activities.

Inclusive Excellence and Belonging at Lehigh

Lehigh is committed to being an institution that strives to enhance a sense of belonging for all members of our community. Our ongoing goal is to ensure that our community members feel safe, valued and welcome.

Latest Progress

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.

Learn more about these efforts and join us in this important work.

Principles of our Equitable Community

Our commitment is reiterated through established principles that help to guide and reinforce the expectations and actions of all Lehigh community members. Read and commit to Lehigh’s Principles of our Equitable Community >

Advocacy Centers

Part of Lehigh’s commitment to enhancing inclusivity is done through nurturing a welcoming campus environment that celebrates differences and is built upon a foundation of mutual respect. Community members hail from all over the United States, and the world, and represent all walks of life. We value this diversity and recognize the essential role it plays in contributing to our rich, vibrant and engaging campus culture. Our community members are supported through five advocacy centers which are part of Lehigh’s Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging. Visit the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging >

students next to tables with rainbow flags

The Pride Center @ LU  exists to build a just, equitable world through community building and the pursuit of change. We work to create a world where all people are able to thrive as their full, authentic selves.

two hands making a heart

The Gender, Leadership, and Empowerment Center works with faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the Lehigh Valley community to create a gender equitable campus by exposing and eliminating barriers based on sex/gender and providing the resources necessary to create inclusive excellence.

Students talking in a lounge

The Center for Cultural Engagement offers resources designed to engage, develop and empower Lehigh's students, staff, faculty and alumni in building their intercultural competencies. The CCE is committed to cultivating an inclusive campus community that promotes mutual respect and intersectional dialogue through an intercultural lens.

group of students in front of a building

The Chaplain’s Office and the Center for Spirituality and Dialogue serve the educational mission of the university by providing space and resources designed to enhance the ethical and spiritual development of those who live and work at Lehigh. Recognizing that people of good will disagree with one another on topics involving ethical analysis, spirituality and religious interpretation, the center seeks to promote the values of open and free inquiry, engaged dialogue and respect.

student giving a high five

The Center for Student Access and Success seeks to expand access to university resources for all students, with a focus on first-generation and limited income students. The Center for Student Access and Success is responsible for ensuring that strategic support systems are in place at Lehigh to enable students to have an enriching, successful college experience.

"The diversity of people and perspectives on our campus is critical to our success as we work on the hardest, most complex problems, and as we prepare our students to succeed in a complex world. Therefore, all of us at Lehigh must work to create a strong academic community that welcomes and values diversity of viewpoint and thought, and celebrates the contributions of all its members."
- Nathan Urban, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Report Bias and Harassment

Lehigh does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, national origin or ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Faculty, staff, and students who experience or witness harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or sexual misconduct are strongly encouraged to report such conduct.

Make a report >

See all resources for reporting >

Community Resources

Connecting Lehigh community members with resources, organizations and programs aligned with creating an inclusive and diverse institution. Check out the highlights below and see the full list compiled by the CEC.

lehigh banner

Academics, Programs & Services

Tap into the many resources available to support Lehigh’s diverse students and scholars.

 

News and Communications

Campus Climate Survey Provides Benchmarks for Ongoing Diversity Work

The Lehigh community recently received an update about the survey and other diversity, equity and inclusion work.

Meet Gladdys Soto, Lehigh University Police Department’s Newest Female Officer: ‘I’m Here Because I Believed in Myself’

Soto joined the department in June after intensive training at the Allentown Police Academy.

Lehigh Opens Two New Food Pantries for Students in Need

The food pantries are located in Johnson Hall on the Asa Packer Campus and Iacocca Hall on the Mountaintop Campus.

Lehigh and the Community

Lehigh University is part of the broader community and works with partners and organizations to increase access to services and improve quality of life for those living in South Bethlehem.

Learn more about Lehigh and the community >

Visit the Community Service Office website >