Lehigh University

The Council on Equity and Community has a vision of changing admissions policies and faculty hiring (not yet implemented): "The CEC will guide diversity, inclusion, and equity in the areas of advocacy, advancement, and program development. It will provide a mechanism for accountability on institutional change and provide advice on the evolving strategic plan."

The University's "Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Plan 2021-2026" states that the University has "[e]xpanded support for diverse and underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students through new programs, such as those supporting women in STEM and first-generation students."

On June 29, 2023, Lehigh's President issued a message in response to the Supreme Court's decision on race-conscious admissions which states the following: "Although in the coming weeks we will be working to understand the implications of the decision on the ways in which colleges may review applications, Lehigh’s core commitment to recruiting, attracting, fostering and supporting a diverse and inclusive community will remain unchanged...This Supreme Court decision does not change this desired end state, but it does change the processes we may use to achieve it, and so we have work to do."

The Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Department at Lehigh University states that "All MSE department faculty and staff will attend annual DEI training offered at Lehigh University."

The University's "Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Plan 2021-2026" states that the University has "[a]dded to the university’s professional development offerings for faculty and staff to encourage diversity, inclusion and equity learning..."

The Office of Multicultural Affairs offers an online diversity and inclusion training course which "dives into various aspects of identity, including self-awareness, imposter syndrome, transitions, power dynamics, privilege, unconscious bias, respectful behavior, allyship, and the crucial art of self-care."

OMA (Office of Multicultural Affairs) Ambassadors "encourage students to take an active role in campus education around issues of race, equity and social justice."

Diversity Peer Educators at Lehigh "educate through peer-peer facilitation on diversity and inclusion with the goal of improving the racial climate on our campus."

As part of its "University Components" document, Lehigh's College of Business and Economics states, "Courses you take to fulfill HU or SS distribution requirements can simultaneously fulfill your CBE Global or CBE Diversity requirement."

Lehigh provides a "Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation or Bias Incident Reporting Form" for members of its campus community.

The "Institute on Critical Race and Ethnic Studies" was formed "to contemplate the role of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies in various fields, and vice versa, along with the role of Critical Race Theory and Ethnic Studies in transforming the US academy including its extension in K-12 education."

Lehigh is offering funding for "initiatives that enhance equity and community within Lehigh University’s College of Education."

On August 17, 2021, the University announced that it received a $2.5 million gift from Charles Marcon (Lehigh Valley philanthropist and CEO of Duggan & Marcon) to establish the "Marcon Institute" which would be dedicated to social justice initiatives. The Institute’s "core activity" would be to "prepare and deploy undergraduate scholars—to be known as the Marcon Fellows—to work alongside community partners to enact change in the arena of social justice and anti-racist issues."

University news reported on April 19, 2022, that a "LUPD [Lehigh University Police Department] Review Committee was set up by the university’s Anti racism Task Force and included members of faculty, administration and students." The review committee made the following findings: "LUPD lacks diversity in leadership; there is a lack of trust between BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities and LUPD officers; there is a general lack of trust around law enforcement within Lehigh’s community; and the community would like more transparency and restorative justice practices from the LUPD."

The ADVANCE Center for Women STEM Faculty has provided Anti-Racist Resources for STEM/Academy.

The Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Department at Lehigh University states that "Every semester, the MSE DEI committee will reevaluate departmental practices related to DEI and anti-racist action and provide recommendations to the department to reinforce our ongoing commitment to our goals."

The University outlined its "Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Plan 2021-2026" which includes its many initiatives and goals.

The University's "Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Plan 2021-2026" states that the University has "[i]mplemented programming, such as the weekly campuswide Community Conversations About Race series hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and regular events through the Center for Gender Equity and the PRIDE Center, among others."

The University's "Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Plan 2021-2026" states that it has "[e]stablished [an] antiracism task force consisting of senior leaders of the majority of university operations."

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity provides antiracism resources, including: "How To Be An Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi, "A Guide to Equity and Antiracism for Educators" and  "Black Lives Matter 13 Guiding Principles."

On May 11, 2023, Lehigh hosted a public seminar titled "Advancing Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEMM Organizations" which is described as follows: "Learn how the backdrop of systemic racism in the United States has harmed and continues to harm people from minoritized groups, which is critical for understanding the unequal representation in STEMM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics & Medicine). Then, learn the recommendations and actions that leaders and gatekeepers in STEMM organizations can take to foster a culture and climate of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion that is genuinely accessible and supportive to all."

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity's "What is Antiracism?" webpage includes links to articles titled "The West was Built on Racism -- It’s Time We Faced That" and "The Invention of the White Race."

The Center for Student Access and Success at Lehigh works to "expand access to the university for all underrepresented groups with a focus on first generation and lower-income students...." The work includes "developing and implementing a comprehensive set of university-wide strategies addressing recruitment and admission, financial aid, student life, academic coaching and advisement, and postgraduate support."

The E.L.I.T.E. (Empowering Leaders To Initiate And Target Excellence) program at Lehigh is an "initiative that shall serve as a means to increase the retention rate of students of color at Lehigh University...."

Lehigh is a an "institutional member" of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity which is a "nationally-recognized, independent organization that provides online career development and mentoring resources for faculty, postdocs, and graduate students."

The Vice President for Equity and Community says equal opportunity doesn't go far enough, and equity is needed.

In September 2021, Lehigh announced its five year Diversity, Equity & Inclusion plan, which includes increasing enrollment of underrepresented groups and conducting a review of the Lehigh University Police Department, faculty, staff and students.

In June 2022, the university will be hosting a two-part series of "Virtual Inclusion Insights | Human Resources." Dr. Steve Robbins will discuss "stereotypes and unintentional intolerance."

Lehigh's "Principles of Our Equitable Community" includes the following statement: "We confront and reject discrimination in all its forms, including that based on age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information...or any differences that have been excuses for misunderstanding, dissension, or hatred."