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Transcript:
It's been an unusually busy start to the spring semester, both at Lehigh, as we advance our Inspiring the Future Makers Strategy, and across higher education, stemming from recent federal actions and policy changes. These actions have the potential to affect key areas of higher education and our work, including research funding, student support, DEI policies, and our partnerships with our international scholars. A policy group is meeting regularly to monitor and assess the changes, and we will keep the campus updated, if and as changes in our practices are needed. Despite some of the challenges facing higher education, our focus remains clear: advancing Lehigh's educational and research mission, being nimble and innovative, and fostering a community of belonging that welcomes and supports every individual. Lehigh remains steadfast in fostering an environment where all voices are valued, and where diverse perspectives strengthen our community--a commitment embedded in the Principles of our Equitable Community and a reminder that open dialogue is more important than ever. Our successes continue to be noticed. Lehigh was just designated an R1 Research University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the only R1 in the Lehigh Valley, and placing us among the nation's 187 leading research universities. This designation strengthens our ability to attract top faculty, staff, and students who want to be part of a university solving global challenges. Consistent with the growth and research that led to R1 designation, growth occurring at a rate exceeding the ambitious goals laid out in our Future Makers Strategy, we recently launched two new university research centers, one for community-driven assistive technologies, and one for advancing community electrification solutions. These join our Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience that was established last year, all focusing on tackling immediate real-world challenges. We're also launching an Exploratory First Semester Program this fall, consistent with our goal of expanding opportunities for deeply interdisciplinary learning. This pilot program will allow students to enter Lehigh without selecting a specific academic college in advance, giving them an opportunity to explore the full breadth of the curriculum. This all follows the January reopening of the Clayton University Center, on budget and a full semester ahead of schedule, now a space filled with students exploring every aspect of this reimagined iconic core of our campus. These are just recent examples of our continued work implementing the Lehigh Strategy, and through all of this, our commitment remains the same: investing in what matters most, our students, our faculty, and our staff, and the continued advancement of Lehigh's Mission.
