Dear Members of the Lehigh Community,
Today, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina which substantially restricts institutions of higher education from using race and/or ethnicity in their admissions decisions. Although in the coming weeks we will be working to understand the implications of the decision on the ways in which colleges may review applications, Lehigh’s core commitment to recruiting, attracting, fostering and supporting a diverse and inclusive community will remain unchanged.
Meaningful diversity among our students, including racial and ethnic diversity, is essential to our commitment to developing future leaders. This Supreme Court decision does not change this desired end state, but it does change the processes we may use to achieve it, and so we have work to do. Inclusion remains a core tenet of Lehigh’s mission. We recognize that the quality and richness of a Lehigh education lies in all of us being part of a community of individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas and viewpoints. We remain committed to fostering a community where all individuals are welcomed, included, and feel a sense of belonging.
Sincerely,
Joseph J. Helble ’82
President
