Message to Campus on Progress on Path to Prominence

Dear Lehigh Community,

As the University heads into spring and we look forward to the completion of this academic year and the excitement of graduating the Class of 2018, I want to share with you the progress Lehigh is making on the Path to Prominence. 

Last week, Lehigh's Board of Trustees approved entering the design phase of a new Health, Science and Technology building to be built on the Whitaker parking lot. The Trustees' decision is a major step forward in advancing Lehigh's academic mission. This building, to be completed in 2021, will house forefront efforts in Science and Technology and will be the home of our new College of Health. We will continue our meetings with faculty, staff and students to determine the academic programs and research that will maximize the impact of this new facility.

Late last year, a faculty working group identified potential focus areas for the College of Health. Provost Pat Farrell held numerous meetings on campus to vet these ideas and solicit further input.  Pat has also met with more than 50 leaders in health care and found there is great interest in what Lehigh is embarking upon. Two Lehigh alumni, former Trustee Vince Forlenza, CEO of Becton Dickinson, and current Trustee Steve Klasko, CEO of Jefferson Health, have been generous with their time and expertise, and are very supportive of this new venture. Their leadership has been invaluable. The Trustees endorsed moving forward, and a search for an inaugural dean is underway.  

Major renovation of Chandler-Ullmann Hall is planned to begin this summer. This will provide contemporary classrooms and offices for the Mathematics and Psychology departments. Art, Architecture, and Design (AAD), currently located in Chandler-Ullmann, will move to a newly remodeled portion of Building C at Mountaintop. AAD will be an exciting addition to the intellectual landscape already at Mountaintop.

We closed the Brodhead parking lot and are beginning construction of the SouthSide Commons residence hall. This is our first step to accommodate our planned increase in student enrollment. Undergraduate applications were up 13 percent this year, an indication of Lehigh's increased visibility and excellence. 

The majority of student growth is to be housed in a residential complex that replaces Trembley Park. As we build this new residential community, an integral part of its success will be a major renovation and addition to the University Center. This will reestablish the University Center as the hub of student life, providing spaces for student organizations, informal gatherings and dining. Construction of this community is scheduled to begin in 2019 and be completed by 2021.

All of our plans for the future are ultimately about our students, our academics and our research. Executing on the Path to Prominence is important to Lehigh's future. I am confident that our entire Lehigh community is up to the challenge. I thank you for your continued interest and support at this critical time in Lehigh's history.

Sincerely,

John D. Simon
President