Lehigh University
PA-6: Support for Underrepresented Groups

The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) serves as an integral resource, advocate, and vehicle of support for the Lehigh community on issues of multiculturalism and diversity. The OMA promotes a community aware of and sensitive to the multifaceted needs of Lehigh students. Identifying itself as an agent of transformation, the OMA challenges individuals to personally and communally grow, exploring multiculturalism and determining their unique role in achieving social justice. (http://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/oma) The Office of First-Year Experience (OFYE) provides students with resources and support during their first year at the University and plans orientation and events throughout the academic year to support first-year students’ living and learning experiences. The OFYE’s first-year programming, known as “evoLUtion,” promotes and introduces first-year students to issues of diversity, inclusion, and community. (http://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/ofye) Recognizing gender is a key element of identity, the Women’s Center creates gender equity within the Lehigh community. While the Women’s Center’s focus is traditionally on gender and gender violence issues, the office incorporate issues of diversity and inclusion into its programming. (http://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/women) The Graduate Life Office exists to enhance the academic, personal, and professional development of Lehigh graduate students through providing a range of programs, activities, events, and workshops related to diversity, inclusion and community. (http://gradlife.web.lehigh.edu/) Lehigh Encourages Academic Partnerships for Success (LEAPS) Program: The LEAPS Program is a college access and retention program for students who have graduated from either the Milton Hershey School or the Reading Public Schools. Monthly workshops enable the students to build a sense of community while learning about the various on-campus and off-campus resources and services. Peer mentoring, interaction with key faculty and staff, and fields trips are additional significant elements of the LEAPS Program. Currently, there are more than sixty (60) LEAPS students at Lehigh University. The Faculty and Staff of Color Network (FSCN) offers support and resources to welcome and foster a greater sense of community with faculty and staff of color on Lehigh's campus. Goals and purpose of the group includes: building a supportive network of faculty and staff; providing professional development; hosting social events that increase networking and retention; and strengthening bridges to other institutions in the Lehigh Valley. Lehigh University is one of seven 2010 recipients of an NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Grant. Lehigh’s proposal “Building Community Beyond Academic Departments” focuses on harnessing the strengths of interdisciplinarity to enhance recruitment, retention, and the advancement of women faculty in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields at Lehigh. At Lehigh University, STEM includes the NSF funded disciplines of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, Economics, and the disciplines within the College of Engineering. Lehigh ADVANCE will evaluate Lehigh's climate and policies, conduct social science research, and make recommendations for best practices to transform the University over the next five years. The overarching goals of the grant are to: - transform Lehigh through improved recruitment, retention, career satisfaction and leadership development of early- to mid-career women faculty in STEM. - contribute to the national dialogue and social science scholarship by examining if interdisciplinary organization can create a critical mass and more equitable work environment for women STEM faculty if facilitated by vigorous search strategies, proactive evaluation policies, and mentoring and networking programs geared to interdisciplinary research and teaching. LGBTQIA Programs and Outreach seeks to improve the Lehigh University climate by inspiring a vision of diversity that is aware of, engaged in, and appreciative of issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. We promote academic and personal growth and development of LGBTQIA students and promote access and full involvement in all aspects of campus life. The creation of the Council for Equity and Community (CEC) was the initiative by President Gast to give increased attention and focus to issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Lehigh and the means to address them in a systematic and coordinated manner. The 2008 inception of the CEC was a tangible and broad-based initiative that has been critical in shaping the dialog on diversity, equity, and inclusion at Lehigh. As CEC enters its sixth year, the university stands willing to strengthen the role and mission of CEC as well as make further advances in creating a more diverse and inclusive community. Three key developments demonstrate Lehigh University’s commitment to the diversity effort and provide the beginnings of the infrastructure to promote and support diversity and inclusion on our campus: (1) the appointment of the new Vice Provost for Academic Diversity (VPAD), (2) the restructuring of the CEC, and (3) the Board of Trustee Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion charge to develop a diversity and inclusion action plan. In our university community, the undercurrent for any work revolving around diversity and inclusion has been that no one office or individual is solely responsible for this work. Rather, as students, staff and faculty, we are all active participants in this endeavor and thus contribute to and benefit from this community of respect. CEC plays an important coordinating role to make this a reality. Lehigh University welcomes students with disabilities and is committed to providing the same opportunities to all Lehigh students. Policies and procedures have been developed to provide students with as much independence as possible and to promote self-advocacy. At Disability Support Services, we work closely with students who self-identify in order to ensure equal access to University programs activities and services.

At Lehigh, we take the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff very seriously. It is for this reason that Lehigh has specific resources to respond to and support those who have experienced or witnessed a bias incident, act of discrimination, or hate crime. If an individual experiences or witnesses harassment, discrimination, or sexual misconduct and would like to make a report, there are several ways to do so: 1. One of the reporting options is to call the Lehigh University Police Department (LUPD) at 610-758-4200. LUPD is available 24/7, 365 per year. LUPD is committed to providing a safe and secure environment on and around campus. 2. Specifically for students, another reporting option is to contact the Gender Violence Support Advocates at 610-758-4763. The Advocates are a network of dedicated staff members who are specifically trained to work with survivors with initial support and referrals to additional resources. 3. Another option is to contact the Equal Opportunity Compliance Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator. 4. There are also two online reporting forms that can be completed and submitted to report an incident of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or gender violence: the Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation, or Bias Incident Reporting form and the Gender Violence Reporting form. When submitting either of these forms, notification is received by the University and LUPD simultaneously, triggering both a University response and a criminal response, if appropriate. 5. All staff, faculty, administrators, teaching assistants, graduate assistants, research assistants, gryphons and other University representatives must immediately report incidents of harassment or discrimination that are brought to their attention by students or that are reporting to them or witnessed by them involving students. In addition, all supervisors must immediately report such incidents that are brought to their attention by any member of the University community. 6. If an individual does not want a report made to the LUPD or to the University, there are two confidential resources available on campus for students (Counseling & Psychological Services and the Chaplain's Office) and one confidential resource for staff (Integrated Behavioral Health). These offices are not required to report the information shared to them to the policy or to University officials. Additionally, there are resources available to support individuals (faculty, staff, and students) who have experienced harassment or discrimination. These include: CONFIDENTIAL RESOURCES LEHIGH (For Students): - Counseling & Psychological Services Johnson Hall, 4th Floor 610-758-3880 - Chaplain’s Office The Dialogue Center, 661 Taylor Street 610-758-3877 LEHIGH (For Faculty and Staff): - Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) Employee Assistance Program 1-800-395-1616 COMMUNITY (For Faculty, Staff, and Students): - Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley 801 Hamilton Street, Suite 300 Allentown, PA 18101 610-437-6610 610-437-6611 (24 hour hotline) - Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley 444 E. Susquehanna Street Allentown, PA 18103 1-877-438-4957 TTY: 610-882-2465 610-437-3369 (24 hour hotline) NON-CONFIDENTIAL RESOURCES LEHIGH (For Students): - Lehigh University Police Department 321 E. Packer Avenue 610-758-4200 - Equal Opportunity Compliance Coordinator / Title IX Coordinator Alumni Memorial Building 610-758-3535 eocc@lehigh.edu - Office of Gender Violence Education & Support University Center, c109 610-758-1303 ingves@lehigh.edu -Advocates 610-758-4763 - Women’s Center University Center, c209/210 610-758-6484 inwnc@lehigh.edu - Office of Multicultural Affairs University Center, c203 610-758-5973 inmca@lehigh.edu - The Pride Center University Center, c212 610-758-4126 rainbowroom@lehigh.edu - Dean of Students Office Williams Hall, Suite 380 610-758-4156 indost@lehigh.edu - Office of Student Conduct & Community Expectations Williams Hall, Suite 320 610-758-4632 cjm9@lehigh.edu hat214@lehigh.edu - Office of Academic Support Williams Hall, Suite 390 610-758-4159 - Health and Wellness Center Johnson Hall, 3rd Floor 610-758-3870 inluhc@lehigh.edu Education of the Lehigh community on the topics of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and sexual misconduct, and encouraging the reporting of these types of behaviors are top priorities. In June 2015, Lehigh adopted the revised Policy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination. The 2015-2016 academic year was focused on educating the Lehigh community about the changes to the Policy, including the scope of mandatory reporting, implementation of a civil rights model of investigating complaints, and the numerous support resources and interim measures that are available. Education on these topics occurs through both in-person and online training, as well as through passive campaigns, brochures, posters, emails to the community, and other methods. During the 2015-2016 academic year, the primary focus of in-person training efforts was the student population. During orientation sessions, in collaboration with the Office of Gender Violence Education & Support, all first year students, transfer students, and graduate students were introduced to the University's definition of sexual harassment, reporting options, resources, and University processes and procedures. Gryphons and orientation leaders were also trained on these topics prior to the commencement of the 2015-2016 academic year. Throughout the year, the Equal Opportunity Compliance Coordinators and the Director of the Office of Gender Violence Education & Support also conducted numerous training sessions for members of the University's fraternities and sororities. During various orientation programs, new faculty and new academic department chairs were provided with information about the Policy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination, including their reporting responsibilities. In addition, various staff members and departments received training on the Policy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination throughout the academic year.

Lehigh has a comprehensive "Diversity Recruitment: A Resource Guide" for recruiting faculty and staff from underrepresented groups. See attached. This guide reflects Lehigh's growing commitment toward creating a diverse environment. Lehigh's diversity mission statement continues to express this notion by stating that Lehigh University, an institution committed to educational excellence and learning, will actively promote an inclusive community that values, affirms, and advances the diverse backgrounds, interests, experiences, and aspirations of all its members. At Lehigh, we keep diversity in mind in every search. We post every position on 9 different diversity websites and also pay another 50% of any additional diversity advertising approved from the supervisor. We ensure that the pool has an adequate percentage of diverse candidates within it prior to calling in candidates for interviews. If it does not, we suggest more outreach. Once we move to the interview stage, we also confirm that the selected candidates are a diverse group. We also send weekly emails to various community based organizations containing a listing of our open positions. Additionally, Lehigh has a number of programs aimed at recruiting students from underrepresented groups: Posse Scholars: Posse is a nationwide program that helps underrepresented students with the college search process by giving them access to schools they might not typically explore otherwise. Scholars who come to Lehigh via the Posse Program are assigned to a faculty or staff mentor who meets regularly with them during the first two years at Lehigh, and usually throughout students’ whole academic career at Lehigh. This is upcoming academic year, 2018, we will welcome the first official cohort of Posse hailing from San Francisco, CA. CBO Summit: The mission of CBO summit is to develop a stronger relationship between Lehigh’s admissions department and community based organizations. We will strive to educate on Lehigh’s practices, enhance our programming through counselor feedback while strengthening, creating, and maintaining relationships. Diversity Achievers Program (DAP): The purpose of DAP is to give underrepresented students from all over the country a chance to visit Lehigh and to speak to current students about what it’s like to be a student here. This is an overnight program for the students, and they have the opportunity to stay with current students while they are on campus. While they are here they have a chance to interview, go to student panels, go to classes with current students, and meet with their regional admissions representative. Lehigh pays for all of these students to visit campus. Advanced College Experience (ACE): The purpose of ACE is to expose underrepresented SOC students who work with CBOs (Community Based Organizations) primarily in the tri-state area to the application process through case studies and student panels. CBO counselors are also asked to visit campus at the same time, and sit in on financial aid case studies as well as learn more about specific offerings to LU such as LUSSI (Lehigh’s summer program). Students will then attend a home football game. Diversity Life Weekend “D-Life”: The purpose of D-Life is to give admitted SOC students, who may not have the resources to visit campus, an opportunity to come to Lehigh and to learn more about the culture and campus. They visit on the same weekend as our regular admitted student program and have the opportunity to participate in the same events as the other students on campus. While on campus students get information about financial aid, explore campus, meet with current students, and have time to interact with other admitted students. This is also an overnight program, so D-Life students stay with current students while they are on campus. This is a Thursday-Sunday event. *Thurs. arrivals are students from the west coast. LUSSI:The Lehigh University Student Scholars Institute starts with a three-week intensive college preparatory experience designed for incoming first year students who identify as first generation and/or low income. In addition to their academic potential, these students show much promise in the areas of leadership and community/civic engagement. Hosted by the Provost's office and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the program provides an academic and social orientation to the life at Lehigh, and promotes personal growth and educational achievement. During the summer session, students will work closely with Lehigh Professors as they attend classes and work on projects and research opportunities that expose them to the rigors and culture of Lehigh University. The Institute also prepares students for leadership and community engagement through weekly seminars, while helping them access the various resources Lehigh has to offer. The summer preparatory experience also includes a weekly professional development series, allowing students to start and refine their professional profiles as students and future leaders. Beyond the summer portion of LUSSI, the Provost's Office and Office of Multicultural Affairs work in collaboration with academic offices and student affairs to provide students with a variety of experiential enrichment activities, such as tutoring, leadership retreats, a mentorship program as well as a capstone project to better assist in the adjustment and sucess of each individual at Lehigh University. International recruitment: Four counselors visited 25 different countries and 48 different high schools. We attended college fairs and presentations through independent counselors and organizations. Visits with CBOs around the country: Visits are encouraged for each counselor in every region, visits consists of but not limited to information session, interviews, case studies and application workshops. Admissions Ambassadors/ Diplomats: Current Lehigh students trained to assist with diversity recruitment efforts. Their duties include but not limited to sitting on student panels, hosting prospective students for overnight programs and providing interviews.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) serves as an integral resource, advocate, and vehicle of support for the Lehigh community on issues of multiculturalism and diversity. The OMA promotes a community aware of and sensitive to the multifaceted needs of Lehigh students. Identifying itself as an agent of transformation, the OMA challenges individuals to personally and communally grow, exploring multiculturalism and determining their unique role in achieving social justice. (http://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/oma) The Office of First-Year Experience (OFYE) provides students with resources and support during their first year at the University and plans orientation and events throughout the academic year to support first-year students’ living and learning experiences. The OFYE’s first-year programming, known as “evoLUtion,” promotes and introduces first-year students to issues of diversity, inclusion, and community. (http://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/ofye) Recognizing gender is a key element of identity, the Women’s Center creates gender equity within the Lehigh community. While the Women’s Center’s focus is traditionally on gender and gender violence issues, the office incorporate issues of diversity and inclusion into its programming. (http://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/women) The Graduate Life Office exists to enhance the academic, personal, and professional development of Lehigh graduate students through providing a range of programs, activities, events, and workshops related to diversity, inclusion and community. (http://gradlife.web.lehigh.edu/) The Faculty and Staff of Color Network (FSCN) offers support and resources to welcome and foster a greater sense of community with faculty and staff of color on Lehigh's campus. Goals and purpose of the group includes: building a supportive network of faculty and staff; providing professional development; hosting social events that increase networking and retention; and strengthening bridges to other institutions in the Lehigh Valley. Lehigh University is one of seven 2010 recipients of an NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Grant. Lehigh’s proposal “Building Community Beyond Academic Departments” focuses on harnessing the strengths of interdisciplinarity to enhance recruitment, retention, and the advancement of women faculty in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields at Lehigh. At Lehigh University, STEM includes the NSF funded disciplines of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, Economics, and the disciplines within the College of Engineering. Lehigh ADVANCE will evaluate Lehigh's climate and policies, conduct social science research, and make recommendations for best practices to transform the University over the past five years. The overarching goals of the grant are to: - transform Lehigh through improved recruitment, retention, career satisfaction and leadership development of early- to mid-career women faculty in STEM. - contribute to the national dialogue and social science scholarship by examining if interdisciplinary organization can create a critical mass and more equitable work environment for women STEM faculty if facilitated by vigorous search strategies, proactive evaluation policies, and mentoring and networking programs geared to interdisciplinary research and teaching. We are now in the post grant years of ADVANCE and most of the initiatives are being institutionalized. LGBTQIA Programs and Outreach seeks to improve the Lehigh University climate by inspiring a vision of diversity that is aware of, engaged in, and appreciative of issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. We promote academic and personal growth and development of LGBTQIA students and promote access and full involvement in all aspects of campus life. The creation of the Council for Equity and Community (CEC) was the initiative by President Gast to give increased attention and focus to issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Lehigh and the means to address them in a systematic and coordinated manner. The 2008 inception of the CEC was a tangible and broad-based initiative that has been critical in shaping the dialog on diversity, equity, and inclusion at Lehigh. As CEC enters its sixth year, the university stands willing to strengthen the role and mission of CEC as well as make further advances in creating a more diverse and inclusive community. Three key developments demonstrate Lehigh University’s commitment to the diversity effort and provide the beginnings of the infrastructure to promote and support diversity and inclusion on our campus: (1) the appointment of the new Vice Provost for Academic Diversity (VPAD), (2) the restructuring of the CEC, and (3) the Board of Trustee Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion charge to develop a diversity and inclusion action plan. In our university community, the undercurrent for any work revolving around diversity and inclusion has been that no one office or individual is solely responsible for this work. Rather, as students, staff and faculty, we are all active participants in this endeavor and thus contribute to and benefit from this community of respect. CEC plays an important coordinating role to make this a reality. Lehigh University welcomes students with disabilities and is committed to providing the same opportunities to all Lehigh students. Policies and procedures have been developed to provide students with as much independence as possible and to promote self-advocacy. At Disability Support Services, we work closely with students who self-identify in order to ensure equal access to University programs activities and services.

Lehigh ADVANCE Recruitment: Lehigh University was one of seven 2010 recipients of an NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Grant. Lehigh’s proposal “Building Community Beyond Academic Departments” focuses on harnessing the strengths of interdisciplinarity to enhance recruitment, retention, and the advancement of women faculty in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields at Lehigh. At Lehigh University, STEM includes the NSF funded disciplines of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, Economics, and the disciplines within the College of Engineering. Lehigh ADVANCE will evaluate Lehigh's climate and policies, conduct social science research, and make recommendations for best practices to transform the University over the next five years. Lehigh ADVANCE will also provide funds to departments and interdisciplinary programs to invite advanced women graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in STEM to give seminars and become familiar with Lehigh, with the purpose of networking and making connections with potential female candidates for upcoming faculty positions, which encourages the participation of women in higher education and future faculty positions. Lehigh ADVANCE “Building Community Beyond Academic Departments program” is part of a national push to increase the ranks of women in academic science and engineering careers. The overarching goals are to: • transform Lehigh through improved recruitment, retention, career satisfaction and leadership development of early- to mid-career women faculty in STEM. • contribute to the national dialogue and social science scholarship by examining if interdisciplinary organization can create a critical mass and more equitable work environment for women STEM faculty if facilitated by vigorous search strategies, proactive evaluation policies, and mentoring and networking programs geared to interdisciplinary research and teaching. Full proposal: http://advance.cc.lehigh.edu/sites/advance.cc.lehigh.edu/files/LehighADVANCEproposal_10.27.10_0.pdf

List of gender neutral bathrooms can be found here: http://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/content/gender-neutral-bathrooms-asa-packer-campus