News

Lehigh's Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Equity and the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) hosted a two-day workshop designed to help faculty and teaching assistants better understand and welcome the diverse populations of students in their classes and labs. The Inclusive Excellence in Teaching & Learning workshop welcomed guest speaker Dr. Omid Fotuhi, director of learning innovation at WGU Labs, who addressed belonging--what it is, why it matters, and strategies that can...

The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) hosted its first BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) retreat, with the aim of allowing folks from different cultures, religions and socio-economic statuses to find the intersections of their shared experience. Approximately 14 students attended from all class years including graduate students, along with several staff members. Activities included hiking, making s'mores, a game night, and presentations by various guest speakers. The focus was on creating space for those...

Dr. Donald Outing, vice president for equity and community, and Dr. Lesley Chow, assistant professor of materials science and bioengineering, shared thoughts with Science Magazine on incorporating DI&E initiatives into research groups and classes. The article, titled "How to begin building a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in your research group," the magazine posits that to advance science, insitutional strategic plans must thoughtfully craft a culture that honors DI&E principles. "By not creating more...

Lehigh's Center for Gender Equity (CGE) has been educating, raising awareness and providing information to campus and beyond since 1991, providing a safe space for all students, faculty & staff to talk about women, gender and LGBTQ+ issues. Previously known as the Women's Center, it was created following a comissioned study on women and minorities. Kathy Calabrese, founder and former part-time director, said the Center improved communications among men and women on campus and allowed...

Last year, the Lehigh community began a process to develop a Diversity, Inclusion & Equity (DIE&) Strategic Plan to continue the work of bulding an inclusive Lehigh campus. The goal is to remove roblocks that stand in the way of success for all and to foster a deep sense of belonging for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community. We are proud to release a framework of our priorities and updates on actions taken to...

A $2.5 million gift from Charles Marcon, Bethlehem resident and Lehigh collaborator and supporter, will create the Marcon Institute. The core activity of the Institute will be to prepare undergraduate scholars (who will be known as Marcon Fellows) to work with community partners as change agents in the areas of anti-racism and social justice. Marcon, a noted philanthropist in the area and CEO of Duggan & Marcon, developed an awareness of racial equity issues while...

Spelman College President Emerita Beverly Daniel Tatum, well known as an expert in race relations and a higher education thought leader, visted Lehigh for a virtual Q&A hosted by the MLK Celebration Committee and spoke on themes from her best selling work Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? Tatum stressed the importance of antiracism's role in disrupting some of the pressing issues regarding race relations today, such as voter suppression...

As part of the ongoing efforts to foster a diverse, inclusive and equitable campus, Lehigh participated in the HEDS Diversity and Equity Campus Climate Survey, launched in April 2020. Results, received in Fall 2020, show that though Lehigh students, faculty and staff are "generally" to "very satisfied" with the overall campus climate for diversity and equity, those with differing identities experience campus differently. "These disparities identify the work that still needs to be done and...

Lehigh has joined a national alliance aimed at developing more inclusive and diverse STEM faculty, one of 19 universities to join the cohort. The effort, known as Aspire: The National Alliance for Inclusive & Diverse STEM Faculty, is co-lead by The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and the Center for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL). This is a three-year effort designed to ensure that all STEM faculty use inclusive teaching practices...