In his latest Community Conversation on Monday, March 2, President Joseph J. Helble ’82 noted the positive momentum Lehigh continues to build, even in the face of prevailing challenges facing higher education. Lehigh’s recent record-breaking applicant pool, faculty recognition, continuing and sustaining research funding in conjunction with the Inspiring the Future Makers strategy, and the importance of interdisciplinary educational programs were highlighted. President Helble shared additional information on placement outcomes for students in the Class of 2025 and facilities and recreational developments and on Lehigh’s commitment to community, encouraging open and honest conversations from a range of perspectives.
Admissions and Career Outcomes
With higher education entering the first year of a demographic cliff, universities across the U.S. have anticipated a potential reduction in applications, likely exacerbated by a changing visa environment that was expected to affect the pool of international applicants. Despite this, Lehigh received a record 20,446 applications this year, the largest applicant pool in Lehigh’s history, with large growth in the domestic applicant pool. Helble noted that domestic applications were up from local areas as well as all other regions of the country.
Explore Lehigh, the exploratory first semester, launched in fall 2025 for first-year students, received more than 400 applications. Explore Lehigh gives incoming students “access to the entire breadth of the Lehigh undergraduate curriculum and does not require them to select a college nor apply to a college coming in,” Helble said.
Lehigh also continues to prioritize financial aid. Helble stated that in the Class of 2029, 20% of students are first-generation, 21% are Pell Grant recipients and more than 200 are recipients of the Lehigh Commitment. Beginning nearly three years ago, the Lehigh Commitment ensures that students coming from families with a household income of less than $75,000 a year will pay nothing in tuition.
In anticipation of CCPD’s first destination report, Helble shared preliminary data that showed a strong outcome for students who graduated in the Class of 2025. Despite the challenging economic climate, Lehigh graduates had a 92% career outcome rate at six months.
Community
Recent events that surfaced imagery, language and behavior that are antithetical to university values have been top of mind for students and the community. In response to student questions on this topic, Helble noted that he has seen “a commitment to work together” and that the campus community has to begin by “talking about who we want to be as a community, how we need to treat one another, and how we make this a part of our everyday.”
“It is my commitment that we will be a campus for inclusion and belonging for every individual. Everyone will be valued,” Helble said. “I’m so pleased with our student leadership on many different levels for stepping in and standing up and speaking about what it means to be a community that is committed to supporting one another,” he continued. Helble said that working within Lehigh’s Principles of Our Equitable Community and Chicago Principles on Freedom of Expression will allow the University to lean into the “importance of hearing from and surfacing a range of views.”
Research and Faculty Recognition
Helble noted that annual research expenditures have grown 55% over the past four years. The Inspiring the Future Makers strategy commits to doubling the research expenditure in a decade. The University is moving in the right direction, as “efforts are bearing extraordinary fruit.”
Last summer, Lehigh completed a Community and Economic Impact Report as a part of the Inspiring the Future Makers strategy. The study showed the University contributes $1.4 billion in economic value to the Lehigh Valley, which is more than any institution of higher education in the region, Helble said.
Helble recognized faculty member Israel E. Wachs, the G. Whitney Snyder Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Lehigh University, for his election to the National Academy of Engineering. This makes Wachs the third Lehigh faculty member elected to the National Academy. Wachs’s entire body of work was completed at Lehigh, with Lehigh colleagues and students.
Facilities and Recreation
Anticipated undergraduate housing is among capital projects soon to be underway. Planning will continue through the summer, with the goal of opening to students by fall 2028. If the project moves forward as planned, Helble said, this new residence building will be located between the Drinker and McClintic & Marshall residences.
Forest Park – Lehigh’s South Mountain woods makes up about half of our contiguous 1600-acre campus. These natural areas provide important links between campus districts and also a wealth of opportunities for research, recreation and wellness. “Lehigh will soon have two trails that are signposted throughout and open to the campus community for hiking, mountain biking, walking and running,” Helble said. These trails have an expected opening date of spring 2026.
