2025 Progress on Focused Leadership

Lehigh is dedicated to positioning itself as a premier local and global leader in sustainability, serving as a model for institutional excellence in higher education. By fostering strategic external partnerships and making intentional financial decisions, we demonstrate focused leadership in identifying and championing innovative, resilient solutions. We remain steadfast in our sustainability commitments and reporting accountability, ensuring Lehigh leads by example in driving long-term, transformative change for a more sustainable future.

Our leadership continues to advocate for these values beyond our gates. Through strategic governance, Provost Urban was elected to the LVEDC Board, ensuring that sustainable economic growth remains a priority for the entire Lehigh Valley. By integrating sustainability into regional economic development, we are leading by example on a municipal scale.

External Partnerships

Update: Through the development of the City’s Climate Action Plan and Lehigh’s Climate Action Strategy, a solid sustainability partnership has been formed between the local community and the university. This will continue to strengthen and evolve as goal implementation advances. Work to enhance the partnership is ongoing.

Update: The City's contractors completed their project on the South New Street Corridor.  

Update: The Office of Sustainability established a connection with the Bethlehem Environmental Advisory Council, which has supported faculty, staff, and student projects in collaboration with the city of Bethlehem and other area groups. This partnership is ongoing. 

Update: Lehigh became an institutional member of the Fair Labor Association in mid 2021.

Update: Lehigh staff continue to cultivate and strengthen relationships with the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. In this fiscal year, Provost Urban was elected to the LVEDC Board.

Next Steps: Over the course of Provost Urban's service on the LVEDC Board, the university will continue to cultivate the partnership with LVEDC, with a focus on collaboration points that advance the missions of both Lehigh University and LVEDC. 

Commitments & Accountability

Update: In 2025, Lehigh achieved its fourth AASHE STARS Gold rating with a score of 67.16. 

Next Steps: With the reporting framework transitioning from version 2.2 to 3.0, the Office of Sustainability (OoS) is developing enhanced tracking methods to meet the new version’s increased emphasis on quantitative data and metrics. The OoS will also explore the feasibility of achieving Platinum by 2030, and work to create a roadmap to do so. 

Update: No Longer Pursuing. The Sierra Club announced the discontinuation of the Cool Schools rankings in late 2021. As a result, this goal is no longer being pursued.

Update: Following the Lehigh Sustainability Council’s drafting of the principles in Spring 2021, the subsequent community engagement initiative—originally scheduled for Spring 2022—is currently delayed. The initiative remains paused as it undergoes a strategic reevaluation.

Update: Lean training and projects are underway as part of larger university strategic initiatives and are being tracked and reported.

Next Steps: Continue to offer workshops and take on lean projects.

*Additional trained Lean facilitators needed. 

Finance

Update: Lehigh continues to provide ESG opportunities within the 403(b) Retirement Plan while upholding our fiduciary duty to prioritize long-term financial security. The goal is currently met through the Parnassus Investment Fund and a self-directed brokerage window, which grants participants access to an extensive range of additional ESG-focused investment options beyond the core fund lineup.

Update: Living Wage analysis has been completed. To be reviewed with leadership.

Next Steps: Meet with leadership to review. 

Update: As of 2021, Lehigh's Green Revolving Fund has been reenvisioned. Key meetings were held, and next steps identified. A gift has come into the fund, and additional gift opportunities were identified.

Update: Work with Lehigh’s Investment Office and the Lehigh Investment Subcommittee of the Board has not yet started. 

Alumni Relationships

Update: Creation of a strategy was completed in 2021. Additionally, in 2021, Sustainability at Lehigh was officially part of the Lehigh GO Campaign, a Sustainability Alumni Advisory Council was created, and the development of a white paper and brochure was finalized. Intentional engagement opportunities with alumni have been created.

Since 2021, the Office of Sustainability has continued to engage with Alumni Relations to cultivate impactful dialogue with alumni about Lehigh’s sustainability challenges and successes. This past year included participating in March Mania + Giving Day and engaging directly with the Lehigh Alumni Sustainability Alliance. 

Update: Following leadership transitions within Alumni Relations and the Lehigh Alumni Sustainability Alliance, this goal remains paused. The Office of Sustainability will reassess the initiative in the coming year.