Lehigh University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

Lehigh has been recognized for its work in preserving the trees and green space on campus by the Arbor Day Foundation, which named Lehigh as a 2021 Tree Campus Higher Education institution.

The Tree Campus Higher Education program, established in 2008, honors colleges and universities for effective campus forest management and engaging staff and students in conservation goals.

Lehigh has achieved the distinction by meeting five standards, including maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and student service-learning project.

Lehigh was named a 2021 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School Postsecondary Sustainability Awardee on Earth Day 2021. The award recognizes Lehigh’s contributions across three pillars: reducing environmental impacts and costs, improving the health and wellness of the school, and ensuring effective environmental and sustainability education.

Lehigh was the Pennsylvania Department of Education's sole higher education nominee and one of just five postsecondary institutions across the nation honored. Nationwide, 27 schools, three early learning centers and five districts received the honor.

In its submission, Lehigh cited the “tremendous strides” the institution has made merging “environmentally responsible solutions with equitable community practices,” and included the adoption of its Sustainability Strategic Plan 2030. The 2030 Plan, released in October, encompasses six focus areas and 113 goals, each aligning with one or more of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The 2030 Plan was developed with input from the Lehigh community―students, faculty, staff, alumni and the Bethlehem community―and guided by the Lehigh Sustainability Council.

Lehigh included mention of its work on creating a Climate Action Strategy as part of its submission. The Climate Action Strategy will provide a detailed framework and serve as a comprehensive roadmap for measuring, planning and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It will also establish a net carbon neutrality date for the institution as well as a pathway for how to get there.

Lehigh also addressed the work it’s doing to fulfill each of the three pillars the award highlights. The university featured the joining of the Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative and a water reduction strategy that includes a rainwater reclamation system incorporated into the design of its new Health, Science, Technology building in its narrative for the first pillar, Your Efforts to Reduce Environmental Impact and Costs. In the narrative for the second pillar, Your Efforts to Improve the Health and Wellness of Students and Staff, Lehigh noted its pending Fitwel and LEED certifications for its new College of Health, achieving its Real Food Challenge goal, its Employee Wellness program and an Eco-Healthy Child Care Certification for Lehigh’s daycare. Lehigh cited numerous ways its students are engaged in sustainability research, internships and using the campus as a living laboratory for the third pillar, Your Efforts to Ensure Effective Environmental and Sustainability Education. The examples included the sustainability curricular integration workshop the Lehigh Sustainability Council hosts.

Lehigh was recognized for the award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in September 2021.

In June 2021, Lehigh announced a new policy that expands the university's commitment to purchasing sustainable and healthful food. This policy will transform the traditional university food system into one that is more sustainable, climate-friendly, diverse, inclusive, and equitable.

The Campus Food Systems working group tasked with this project is composed of members of the Office of Sustainability, Student Auxiliary Services, Lehigh University Dining, and Purchasing Services. This group will now focus on implementing the necessary changes to our campus food system to align with this policy.