President Video Message: Reflecting on Progress, and Happy Holidays

President Joseph Helble ’82 shares a year-end message reflecting on Lehigh’s remarkable progress this fall, from record-breaking admissions to expanded access through the Lehigh Commitment and growth in research funding. He emphasizes sustaining momentum into year two of the Inspiring the Future Makers Strategy and shares updates on the nearly complete Clayton University Center at Packer Hall. President Helble expresses his gratitude for the Lehigh community's contributions and wishes everyone a joyful holiday season.

Read the transcript:

As we come to the end of the fall semester, I'd ask that we pause and make note of this moment, a moment of incredible momentum and positive growth for Lehigh. Despite the challenges facing higher education, we have so much to be proud of and even to celebrate. This past spring saw another record undergraduate applicant pool, and signs for the year ahead are promising. Campus visitation numbers are up, fall open house attendance reached record levels, and our early decision pool increased again this year. It's clear that Lehigh continues to attract and inspire the next generation of students. We're also seeing the impact of initiatives like the Lehigh Commitment, which covers the full cost of tuition to undergraduates coming from families with an annual income less than $75,000. This year, we welcomed a record number of Pell Grant recipients, more first-generation students are choosing Lehigh, and we've expanded access to study abroad opportunities, broadening global perspectives for even more of our students. In research, our funding has grown for the fourth consecutive year. Our athletic teams are thriving, from football to women's basketball to the ROTC Ranger Challenge team, our students continue to excel. And in the city of Bethlehem, we're proud of the recent recognition of World Heritage Status, with Bethlehem joining only 25 other sites across the United States. Much of the progress we're seeing at Lehigh is guided by our long-term strategy. In just the first year, we've launched the Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience, introduced a new integrated business and health degree that will welcome its first students next fall, and achieved an impressive 94% first year retention rate. Through faculty and staff engagement, we're working to integrate the strategy's goals into our daily work. As we look ahead to year two, I want to emphasize the importance of maintaining our momentum and avoiding a sophomore slump. This is a collective effort and together, we will continue to build on the strong foundation we've set this first year implementing our future maker strategy. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey. Finally, we're excited to share that the renovation of the Clayton University Center at Packer Hall is nearing completion and ahead of schedule. Beginning early in the new semester, we'll start welcoming students in the campus community back into this revitalized space. Be on the lookout for opportunities to engage in this dynamic environment as we unveil new dining options and begin relocating offices back into the center. We're thrilled about the Clayton UC being the central crossroads of our community, fostering connection and collaboration. More information will be shared soon. Until then, I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the year ahead.