2025 Progress on Health & Wellness

We recognize that the health of our planet is inseparable from the health of our people. Lehigh recognizes that the overall health and quality of life for our community are vital drivers of employee satisfaction and student engagement. By offering nutritious dining options, a robust employee wellness program, and intentional building and landscape designs, we are actively fostering an environment that enhances well-being for our faculty, staff, and students, as well as the broader community.

This year, we achieved a 52% employee participation rate in our wellness program and finalized a draft of our Sustainable Catering Practices to align campus dining with both personal and environmental health. Simultaneously, Lehigh is enhancing well-being through intentional infrastructure, highlighted by significant pedestrian and universal design improvements at the Clayton University Center. Since 2021, the university has systematically upgraded campus safety and accessibility through enhanced lighting and walkway projects. Moving forward, pedestrian safety, lighting enhancements, and accessibility have been solidified as standard, mandatory requirements integrated into the scope of every new campus development and infrastructure project.

Food

Update: A Sustainable and Healthful Food Purchasing Policy was developed and adopted in June 2021. 

Update: Throughout the year, Lehigh Dining and the Office of Sustainability regularly collaborated on educational events and marketing strategies. 

Update: As of 2021, Lehigh Dining implemented food purchasing standards in the College of Health that are in line with Fitwel standards. This will be utilized as a pilot for the rest of the campus.

Next Steps: Review purchasing standards and determine the feasibility of expanding across campus. 

Update: Lehigh Dining is continually reviewing and identifying select menu items to display their carbon and water footprints.

Update: Lehigh successfully launched a partnership with Willow Haven Farm in July 2022, meeting the initial goal of piloting a Market Box CSA program. The Office of Sustainability is currently challenged by limited staffing capacity, logistical hurdles regarding a suitable pickup location, and lower-than-anticipated participation from faculty and staff.

Next Steps: While the program remains on hold, we will continue to monitor internal capacity and community interest for potential future opportunities. 

Update: Dining researched programs at other colleges and universities in 2022 and had numerous discussions with our vendor, Canteen. Canteen offers the Choice Plus program and have incorporated some of these ideas into our current vending program.

Next Steps: Dining will continue to explore options and work with Lehigh's registered dieticians and managers to develop a healthy vending machine standard and implement it. 

Update: A draft of sustainable catering practices has been completed, but not yet implemented. 

Next Steps: Meet with catering managers to discuss goals for the department and create standards.

Update: Goal was completed in 2022. Following the July 2021 installation of Farmshelf hydroponic gardens at Rathbone and Cort at Lower UC, the units have been fully operational since August 2021. Due to renovations at the Clayton University Center (CUC), the gardens were consolidated into Rathbone in 2022.

Well-Being

Update: Currently on hold; the initiative will be re-evaluated for alignment with the new campus-wide strategic plan and campus master plan.

Update: As of August 2025, employee participation in the Faculty/Staff Wellness Program was 52%. I anticipate this number to increase to 55% at our next reporting.

Next Steps: Continued engagement and communication.

Update: This initiative is currently on hold following leadership changes in the Office of Sustainability. 

Next Steps: Progress will resume once the new leadership has had the opportunity to review and align the project with current departmental priorities.

Update: The policy was approved and implemented in early 2023. Comprehensive toolkits for managers and employees are now available, with Human Resources actively distributing these resources to all staff beginning family leave.

Update: A campus-wide tobacco- and smoke-free policy took effect in August 2021.

Healthy Infrastructure

Update: Currently on hold; the initiative will be re-evaluated for alignment with the new campus-wide strategic plan and campus master plan.

Update: Following the 2021 installation in the HST building, the initial plantings were unsuccessful due to maintenance and growth challenges. In 2025, the HST plantings were replaced with new university funding. Moving forward, the project serves as a pilot to establish best practices for long-term management; however, campus-wide expansion is currently being re-evaluated for alignment with the new strategic and campus master plans.

Update: Since 2021, Lehigh has systematically upgraded campus safety and accessibility through significant lighting and pedestrian improvements. Key milestones include:

  • Lighting: Transitioned Asa Packer and Mountaintop Campus streetlights to LED and enhanced site lighting across residential areas and garages as requested.
  • Infrastructure: Completed major pedestrian site improvements at the HST building, Business Innovation Building, Clayton University Center, and the Taylor Gym/Centennial II corridor.

Next Steps: Pedestrian and lighting enhancements are now integrated as standard requirements for all new campus development projects.

Update: Lehigh continues to maximize campus accessibility through purposeful design in all new construction and renovation projects. Since 2021, key milestones have included:

  • New Construction: Integrated universal design into the HST building, Singleton, Hitch, and Maida residential halls, the Business Innovation Building, and the Clayton University Center.
  • Targeted Improvements: Completed accessibility upgrades at Rathbone Dining Hall, Taylor Gym, and the corridor between EWFM Library and Whitaker Laboratory.

Next Steps: Accessibility is now a standard consideration integrated into the scope of every new campus infrastructure project.