University Communications

As shared by President Simon yesterday, we are working together as a community to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. As cases continue to be reported in communities around the country, we have been informed it has now impacted members of the Lehigh community.

Undergraduate students will be able to elect out of the regular grading system and convert a course grade to what we will call the CR (credit) grading system. They can make this choice beginning in April, and any time through to after grades are reported to students at the end of the semester.

We are now up and running with remote education. I realize this has been a very fast transition, and many of us—myself included—are still in transition as we figure out how to best navigate a remote learning environment for our particular courses. This is no small task, and I thank you for your continued efforts to provide a high-quality academic experience for our students.

'Know that we are all in this together'

This communication includes an update on credits issued to student accounts for Lehigh housing and dining plans, new guidance on meeting size and remote work for faculty and staff, and other information.

An update sent to students remaining on campus.

This update includes resources for students to aid in this adjustment, information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with new travel and event guidance, updates on available campus resources, changes to building access and hours, and other important information.

Sause will lead Lehigh’s Institute for Cyber Physical Infrastructure and Energy.

A letter from President John D. Simon '19P

Updated 3.16.20: Work is underway to reopen Packer Avenue by March 23. As a result of the impact of COVID-19 and Lehigh moving to remote instruction, the temporary closure of Packer Avenue has been suspended until a later date, when students return to campus and a true test is feasible.

On-campus alumni events are being canceled or postponed, as well as regional and off-campus events. We will be in touch with alumni who are registered for events that are being changed. We will keep you informed about any changes to Commencement, scheduled for May 18, and Reunion, scheduled for June 4-7.

Information from Housing Services regarding access to rooms, move-out options and procedures.

The university has extended remote coursework through the end of the academic semester, including the exam period, through Wednesday, May 13.

For any students--graduate, undergraduate, domestic or international--who are experiencing financial hardship and do not have the resources to purchase travel home, we can work with you on these concerns. As we have already started using our housing system to track some requests, this remains the best system to gather information and respond to residential students.

Several new developments have led us to conclude that conducting classes remotely for the remainder of the semester (through the end of final exams on Wednesday, May 13) is necessary and in the best interest of the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, and of the greater Bethlehem community.

A message sent to the campus community from President Simon.

President Trump announced this evening that all flights from Europe to the US will be suspended for 30 days, beginning Friday, March 13 at midnight. These restrictions will not apply to the UK.

New guidance for domestic travel, hosting events, visitors to campus, human resource-related matters, and other information regarding Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19).

John Knecht ’08 helps orchestrate longest Hot Wheels track run.

The university senior leadership and medical professionals in the Health and Wellness Center continue to monitor the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak and to provide updates.