Lehigh Named ‘Diversity Champion,’ Receives National Award for Diversity and Inclusion Efforts

“We are excited about it, extremely proud,” said Outing, who noted the achievement is particularly remarkable during a time when many institutions are scaling back diversity, equity and inclusion efforts because of anti-DEI bills being introduced or passed by state legislators around the country.

When Outing began at Lehigh in 2017, one of his goals was to compete for the HEED Award. “Insight into Diversity was a magazine that was known to me, and I wanted to use this as external validation for the work we were doing,” Outing said.

Lehigh’s 2021-2026 Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Strategic Plan is the guide for goals and actions the administration is taking to create a more diverse community where everyone feels valued, opinions can be expressed freely and all are treated equitably.

Outing will give an update on the plan and Lehigh’s HEED/Diversity Champion designation from 3-4:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 during a Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Town Hall in the LTS Circle in Fairchild-Martindale Library.

What Made Lehigh Stand Out?

Lehigh’s application demonstrated an actionable commitment to diversity and inclusion by collecting feedback from campus constituents and using that data to drive its plans, Mendelson said.

Programs that stood out to the HEED selection committee included:

• The Lehigh Commitment: grants full tuition to undergraduate students from families with a total income of less than $75,000.
• Faculty Recruitment Ambassadors: provide information to faculty and staff candidates about Lehigh’s resources for diversity and faculty success.
• Advancing Future Faculty Diversity Postdoctoral Program: provides opportunities for scholars from diverse backgrounds who have been historically underrepresented in academia.
• Summer Success and Aid Program: supports students’ academic progress toward their degree, including students with high financial need who are behind in the completion of their Lehigh degree.
• Lehigh University Student Scholars Institute (LUSSI): geared toward first-year students who identify as first-generation college students, students from an underrepresented background or who are low income.
• F1RST – First-Generation Initiative Represented by Students and Teachers: promoting an inclusive community for first-generation and working-class students at Lehigh.
• Passport to Success: supports academic opportunities beyond campus, including study abroad, international internships, global experiences in the United States, research opportunities and community engagement.

Also cited was a short-answer question added to applications for prospective students so they can share their lived experience in the broader context of equity and inclusion.

“As we continue to face an ever-changing landscape in higher education, fostering belonging is crucial to maintaining our competitiveness as an institution and ensuring that our community thrives,” Outing said. “The work we do in this space is essential, not only for the success of individuals, but also for the long-term success of Lehigh University itself.”

His goals for the coming year are:

• Strengthening the sense of belonging: Continuing to foster an environment where students, staff and faculty feel valued and empowered to bring their whole selves to work and learning spaces.
• Increasing access and opportunity: Expand viable programs that support recruitment, retention and success for minority and first-generation students, as well as initiatives that provide professional growth opportunities for diverse faculty and staff.
• Enhancing accountability measures: Outing’s office is refining how to measure and report progress on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, focusing on outcomes that directly impact the experiences of Lehigh’s community members.

The Student Experience

Lehigh students participating in programs that promote diversity and inclusion say the experience has led to academic and networking opportunities. It also helped them navigate campus life with a community of peers from similar backgrounds who can offer the unique support first-generation and underrepresented students need.

Kareem Hargrove ’25 is a first-generation student from Stamford, Connecticut, president of the Student Senate, a United Nations youth representative, former president of the Black Student Union, vice president of the College of Health Student Advisory Council, a student guide for LUSSI and member of the Rapidly Accelerated Research Experience (RARE), a program that provides opportunities for students from backgrounds underrepresented in science, technology engineering and mathematics.

“So many opportunities were born out of being a part of these different communities,” he said.

It can sometimes be hard to facilitate inclusivity as a student, but Hargrove said Lehigh invites students to be part of the discussion and decision making.

“It’s something Lehigh does really well, creating a space to have those conversations, and leading with some kind of tangible way to address it, both from the administrative side and the student side,” Hargrove said.

Nix Huang ’25 is another first-generation student who is vice president of internal affairs with Student Senate, a member of LUSSI and a member of Lambda Theta Alpha, which started as a sorority for Latina women. Huang was born in China and lived there for 12 years before coming to the U.S.

She credits LUSSI with helping her transition to college as a first-generation student, particularly when it came to applying for financial aid.

“Our parents didn’t go through this. They didn’t have to apply for financial aid,” Huang said. “Financial literacy is a big thing for first-generation college students. In general, we don’t have much financial support.”

She said Lehigh’s diversity and inclusion efforts are a continuous effort that doesn’t stop when a single goal or metric is met.

“I would say Lehigh is continuously getting better, but things always come up, and when things do come up—not only on campus but global affairs that also affect college students—how we handle these situations is important,” she said. “There’s always room for improvement.”

Elijah Blayark ’25 is president of the National Society of Black Engineers, a member of Lehigh Student Senate, a former member of the Black Student Union Executive Board, a member of LUSSI and president of the Omicron Kappa Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity at Lehigh, the only active historically Black Greek letter organization on campus.

Blayark, who comes from Minneapolis, says LUSSI is like “home away from home.”

“Whenever I needed support, they were always there,” Blayark said. As a student guide, he helps oversee a group of about 20 students, conducting one-on-one meetings with them throughout the semester to see how they are navigating Lehigh life.

“I think Lehigh can be a big culture shock for some of the students, and I think these programs help fill the gap between where these students are coming from and what their experience is going to be like at Lehigh,” he said.