During his latest Community Conversation, President Joseph J. Helble ’82 acknowledged that although there are headwinds facing higher education, Lehigh is experiencing a remarkable period of growth.
Helble talked about the university’s exponential growth in research, faculty recognition, the launch of new deeply interdisciplinary academic programs, record-breaking admissions figures and philanthropy efforts, and recent achievements in athletics. He gave updates on the Inspiring the Future Makers Strategy and university facilities, as well as updates on federal actions in regard to higher education. Helble also touched on fostering discussions on campus that lead to productive exchange that can help the community learn and grow.
“This is a time of tremendous growth for this university, intellectually. It is a time when our programs are having tremendous impact, and it is a time where we are getting increasing recognition externally for the work that our faculty, staff and students are doing,” he said, to an audience gathered in Forum 101 in the Health, Science and Technology Building and tuning in via Zoom. “It is a moment that, despite the headwinds facing higher education, I hope you will be extraordinarily proud of what’s happening here at Lehigh.”
Community Conversations are designed for students, faculty and staff to learn important updates about the Lehigh community and ask questions. Below are some highlights from the latest Community Conversation.
Research
Helble opened his presentation with an update on research. He said that the university is well on its way to doubling its research activity within a decade, including research funding, as part of the Future Makers Strategy. Lehigh’s sponsored program expenditure grew from $40 million in fiscal year 2021 to $58.7 million in fiscal year 2024—an increase of 47% over three years.
Additionally, Lehigh was designated as an R1 research university in February by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Attaining R1 status, the highest level of research activity in the Carnegie Classification system, is a milestone that means a university conducts a “very high volume of research” and awards a large number of research doctorates, according to the Carnegie Classification. Lehigh is the only university in the Lehigh Valley to have the designation and one of seven in the state.
As part of the Future Makers Strategy, Helble noted that the university made a commitment to establish three interdisciplinary research centers, or University Research Centers (URCs). In 2024, Lehigh launched the Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience, a URC through which researchers explore how hurricanes, pandemics and other large-scale events impact communities. In February, Lehigh launched two new URCs: the Center for Community-Driven Assistive Technologies (CDAT) and the Center for Advancing Community Electrification Solutions (ACES). CDAT will explore novel ways to improve the lives of people with disabilities, while ACES will focus on creating efficient, reliable and self-sustaining energy systems.
Faculty Recognition
Helble noted “tremendous positive news” concerning Lehigh faculty and their external recognition. Six faculty members were named senior members of the National Academy of Inventors in February, recognizing the growing amount of entrepreneurial activity happening on campus, he said. Included in the cohort is Volkmar Dierolf, professor of physics; Xiaoji Xu, associate professor of chemistry; Jonas Baltrusaitis, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering; Xuanhong Cheng, professor of bioengineering and materials science and engineering; Siddha Pimputkar, associate professor of materials science and engineering; and Yahong Rosa Zheng, professor of electrical and computer engineering.
In January, Hannah Dailey ’02 ’06G ’09 Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics, was named a 2024 recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PCASE) by the Biden administration. The award recognizes exceptional young professionals in science and engineering.
Professor Dan M. Frangopol, the inaugural Fazlur R. Khan Endowed Chair of Structural Engineering and Architecture, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in February for his contributions to life-cycle civil engineering and leadership in its global development and adoption.
Academics
Lehigh launched “new, radically interdisciplinary inter-college programs,” including the Integrated Business and Health (IBH) program, Helble said. For the inaugural fall 2025 IBH cohort, 187 applications were received. Additionally, the university will launch Explore Lehigh this fall, which is an exploratory first-semester program that will give incoming students the opportunity to explore the full curriculum broadly before making a decision of which college to enter and major to pursue.
“These programs are distinctive parts of Lehigh, and part of what differentiates us as an institution,” Helble said. “Interdisciplinarity is a term that’s often tossed around lightly and loosely. This is something that Lehigh has been deeply committed to since the start of the first inter-college program more than 20 years ago, and it is something that truly sets us apart.”
Admissions
Lehigh’s applicant pool for the class of 2029 was the second largest in the university’s history. This year, the university received applications from all 50 U.S. states and 139 countries. Helble noted that 54% of undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid with an average award of $50,000. Currently, Lehigh is 20% first-generation students. In terms of socioeconomic diversity, 18% of students overall are recipients of the federal Pell Grant, which helps undergraduates from low-income families pay for college, with 23% in the current first-year class.
In the area of graduate applications, Helble said the goal this year was to increase master’s and certificate program applications by 10%. To date, Helble said master’s applications are up 67% over last year, and Ph.D. applications are up 74% compared to a year ago. Deposits for entering students at the master’s level are up 160%, and Ph.D. commitments are up 27% respectively.
As part of the Future Makers Strategy, Lehigh made a commitment to being a national leader in student outcomes. Helble said first-year student retention data for this year indicated a retention rate of 98.5%, which is up more than one percentage point compared to a year ago.
Athletics
Lehigh recently welcomed Jeremy L. Gibson as the new Murray H. Goodman Dean of Athletics in January. In less than two months since Gibson’s arrival, the wrestling team has won the EIWA team championship and the women’s basketball team won the Patriot League Championship. These accomplishments follow the men’s lacrosse and football teams winning Patriot League titles within the past year.
“It is a tremendous testament to our coaches and, of course, our student-athletes and the success of our programs,” Helble said.
Philanthropy
Giving Day + March Mania, a two-day focused fundraiser, resulted in Lehigh exceeding its goals for dollars and donors resoundingly, Helble said. Total donors amassed more than 4,600—a 22% increase over last year. More than $3 million was raised to support education and athletics on campus—a 40% increase and also an all-time high.
Facilities
The Clayton University Center at Packer Hall reopened in January four months ahead of schedule and under budget. Helble said he’s been gathering feedback on food and spaces within the Clayton UC, and feedback will continue to be reviewed over the summer, but overall the reaction to the renovated building “has been very, very positive.”
Lehigh Strategy Events
There are two upcoming events specifically related to the Lehigh strategy: the Inspiring the Future Makers Town Hall will be held on April 17, and A Shared Bethlehem Experience Future Makers Forum will be held on April 23. Building on last year’s success, Data Day 2025 will be held on May 8 and will highlight data, tools, case studies and insights to inform the university’s decision making.
Helble also said an Economic and Community Impact Report will be published later this semester showcasing Lehigh’s role in contributing to the economic vitality and community wellbeing of the Lehigh Valley.
Federal Update
To help the university digest, prepare, plan and respond to federal actions and policy changes, Helble noted that a working policy group has been assembled by Provost Nathan Urban. The group is tracking, assessing, responding and helping identify areas where the university may need to think about changes in the way it engages with the federal government, or changes in the way it does business, Helble said. Some of the areas they are tracking right now include diversity, equity and inclusion, immigration, research funding, taxation and the potential closure of the Department of Education.
“Our commitment to community remains unchanged,” Helble said. “Our core values have always been about belonging and about enabling everyone the opportunity to be and become the best versions of themselves. To be able to be and bring, as I so often say, their full selves to everything that they do and to be challenged only in the classroom for their academic work. To enable them to be who they are and to be supported, nurtured and helped to grow and learn for who they are … That commitment is unchanging.”
Helble noted the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights’ recent letter that included Lehigh as one of 60 institutions the federal government is watching and asking to be particularly attentive to steps to combat antisemitism. He said Lehigh has reached voluntary resolution with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and there is no new information or new investigation.
“Our commitment to being a campus that supports every student and every member of our community, and our commitment to being a campus that does not tolerate antisemitism has not changed,” Helble said.
In the area of research funding, Helble said, “Members of the Pennsylvania delegation are listening to us and engaging substantively in this conversation and asking how we can work together for the betterment of the country in this area and for the support of research at universities like Lehigh.”
