Lehigh University

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Lehigh University
LUwithShield-CMYK.svg
MottoHomo minister et interpres naturae (Latin)
Motto in English
Man, the servant and interpreter of nature
TypePrivate
Established1865
Endowment$1.163 billion (2016)[1]
PresidentJohn Douglas Simon
ProvostPatrick V. Farrell
Administrative staff
1,196
Undergraduates5,047[2]
Postgraduates1,942[2]
Location
Bethlehem
,
Pennsylvania
,
United States
CampusUrban and Suburban; 2,350 acres (950 ha)
ColorsBrown and White          [3]
AthleticsNCAA Division I –
   Patriot League
   MAISA
NicknameMountain Hawks
AffiliationsNAICU
MascotClutch the Mountain Hawk
Websitewww.lehigh.edu
Lehigh University text.png

Lehigh University is a private research university in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1865 by businessman Asa Packer. Its undergraduate programs have been coeducational since the 1971–72 academic year.[4] As of 2019, the university had 5,047 undergraduate students and 1,942 graduate students.[2][5]

Lehigh has four colleges: the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Economics, and the College of Education. The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest, which roughly consists of 35% of the university's students.[5] The university offers a variety of degrees, including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Engineering, Master of Education, and Doctor of Philosophy.

Lehigh has produced Pulitzer Prize winners, Fulbright Fellows, members of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and of the National Academy of Sciences, and National Medal of Science winners.

The Clery Act[edit]

Main articles: Clery Act and Jeanne Clery

On April 5, 1986, a 19-year-old Lehigh freshman was raped and murdered in her dorm room; the perpetrator was apprehended, tried and sentenced to death. The backlash against unreported crimes on numerous campuses across the country led to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The Clery Act requires that colleges reveal information regarding crime on their campuses.[6][7]

20 years after the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act took effect, thought leaders on campus safety came to Lehigh to discuss critical safety issues for colleges and universities. The event, "Proceeding in Partnership: The Future of Campus Safety," was held on the Lehigh campus in September 2011, and was co-sponsored by Security on Campus (SOC), which was founded by Connie and Howard Clery following the death of their daughter, Jeanne Clery. The conference represented the first cooperative effort between Lehigh and the organization since Jeanne Clery's death.[8]

Campus[edit]

Main article: List of Lehigh University buildings
Asa Packer Campus, 1907.

Located in the Lehigh Valley, the university is a 70-mile (110 km) drive from Philadelphia, and an 85-mile (137 km) drive from New York City.[9]

Lehigh encompasses 2,350 acres (9.5 km2), including 180 acres (0.73 km2) of recreational and playing fields and 150 buildings comprising four million square feet of floor space. It is organized into three contiguous campuses on and around South Mountain, including:

  • the Asa Packer Campus, built into the northern slope of the mountain, is Lehigh's original and predominant campus;
  • the Mountaintop Campus, atop South Mountain, featuring an intramural sports field as well as Iacocca Hall; and
  • the Murray H. Goodman Campus, immediately south, where a 16,000-seat stadium and other sports facilities are located.

In May 2012, Lehigh became the recipient of a gift of 755 acres of property in nearby Upper Saucon Township from the Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation. The gift from the estate of the long-time benefactor allowed the university to expand its footprint to now comprise 2,350 acres across all its campuses, and to consider its long-term potential uses.[10]

P.C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science

Rankings and reputation[edit]

University rankings
National
Forbes[11] 67
Times/WSJ[12] 48
U.S. News & World Report[13] 53
Washington Monthly[14] 90
Global
QS[15] 481–490
Times[16] 501–600
U.S. News & World Report[17] 619

U.S. News & World Report ranked Lehigh tied for 53rd among national universities in its 2019 edition of "Best Colleges".[18] The Economist ranked Lehigh 7th among national universities in its 2015 ranking of non-vocational U.S. colleges ranked by alumni earnings above expectation.[19] Entrepreneur Magazine and The Princeton Review named Lehigh the 24th best undergraduate college for entrepreneurship in 2012.[20]

The Wall Street Journal in June 2010 ranked Lehigh as number 12 in the nation for return on investment (ROI) when comparing the average career earnings of a graduate to the cost of an education.[21]

Lehigh has appeared in several international university rankings. The university ranked 301–350 overall in the 2013–2014 Times Higher Education World University Rankings,[22] 401–500 overall in the 2012 edition of the Academic Ranking of World Universities,[23] and 551-600 overall in the 2013 QS World University Rankings.[24]

Admissions[edit]

U.S. News & World Report classifies Lehigh's selectivity as "Most Selective."[18] For the Class of 2022 (enrolled fall 2018), Lehigh received 15,623 applications and accepted 3,418 (22%).[25] Per Lehigh's school newspaper, 2022 marked the most selective year with a 19% acceptance rate for regular decision applicants.

Academics[edit]

Lehigh's average class size is 27 students; 80% of classes have fewer than 35 students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1.[2]

Lehigh University offers undergraduate enrollment in all colleges but the College of Education: the P.C. Rossin School of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Business and Economics, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Students are able to take courses or major/minor in a subject outside of their respective college.[26] The university operates on a semester system.[27]

P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science[edit]

See also: Lehigh University engineering highlights
Iacocca Hall on the Mountaintop Campus.
Sayre Observatory belonging to the University

Graduates of Lehigh's engineering programs invented the escalator[28] and founded Packard Motor Car Company[29] and the companies that built the locks and lockgates of the Panama Canal. Other notable alumni include Roger Penske and Lee Iacocca. Tau Beta Pi, the renowned engineering honor society, was founded at Lehigh.[30]

College of Business and Economics[edit]

In 2012, BusinessWeek ranked Lehigh's College of Business and Economics 31st in the nation among undergraduate business programs.[31] Lehigh's finance program is particularly strong, ranked as 7th overall undergraduate finance program in the nation by BusinessWeek. The accounting program is also strong, ranked as the 21st best undergraduate program in the nation by BusinessWeek.[31] Additionally, US News & World Report ranked Lehigh's part-time MBA 20th in the nation in 2018 rankings.[32] Entrepreneur Magazine and The Princeton Review named Lehigh the 24th best undergraduate college for entrepreneurship in 2012.[20]

College of Arts and Sciences[edit]

Based in Maginnes Hall,[33] Lehigh offers a variety of humanities courses and visual arts programs. In particular, it has many music programs, including a marching band, the Wind Ensemble and the Philharmonic orchestra. In addition to the sciences, English and Journalism are particularly strong, with a long history dating back to Richard Harding Davis's days. It has a dedicated Humanities Center, which is the site for many literature and other arts-based programs, including the DWS, or Drown Writers Series.[34][vague]

Lehigh also has a program called ArtsLehigh,[35] oriented towards enhancing interest in the arts on campus.

College of Education[edit]

More than 7000 students have received master's, education specialist, PA Department of Education teaching certificates and certifications, doctoral degrees and professional certificates from Lehigh's College of Education as of 2018.[36]

Faculty[edit]

See also: Lehigh University faculty

As of 2012, Lehigh has 681 faculty members teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses, and 482 of whom are permanent full-time faculty. 99% of tenure-track faculty hold a doctorate degree or the highest degree in their field. About 68% of all full-time faculty are tenured.[2] Faculty members are required to have a minimum of four office hours per week.

Reducing high-risk behaviors[edit]

Lehigh has joined top schools across the country as a part of an innovative program focused on reducing high-risk drinking behaviors. Lehigh has created alternative programs that offer students more social and recreational options on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. The new "Lehigh After Dark" program began in the Fall 2012 semester.[37]

Athletics[edit]

Main article: Lehigh Mountain Hawks

Called the Engineers until 1995, Lehigh's teams are now officially known as the Mountain Hawks. Teams prior to 1995 may be referred to by the historic title, Lehigh Engineers.

As a member of the Patriot League, Lehigh competes in 25 different NCAA Division I sports. Lehigh's 2006 student-athlete graduation rate of 97% ranked 12th among all 326 NCAA Division I institutions.[38] In 2002, it won the inaugural USA Today/NCAA Foundation Award for having the nation's top graduation rate of all Division I institutions.[38] Lehigh student-athletes' success on the field and in the classroom has resulted in Lehigh being one of the 20 Division I schools included in U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best College Sports Programs."

Lehigh graduates have gone on to professional careers in the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer,and the National Basketball Association as players, scouts, coaches and owners. Lehigh graduates have competed in the Super Bowl and won gold medals for the US at the Olympics. And while not a school sport, a number of graduates such as Roger Penske, Al Holbert, and John Fitch went on to successful careers in auto racing.

Basketball[edit]

Main article: Lehigh Mountain Hawks men's basketball

Lehigh's fifth trip to the NCAA tournament in 2012 proved to be their most notable to date, thanks to its first-round game as a #15 seed on March 16, 2012 against the #2 seed Duke Blue Devils. Despite being a heavy underdog, thanks to C. J. McCollum's 30-point heroics, the Mountain Hawks pulled off the stunning upset, defeating the Blue Devils 75-70 and making it only the sixth time that a 15th seed has defeated a 2nd seed.[39]

Wrestling[edit]

The most storied athletic program at Lehigh is its wrestling team dating back to 1910. Over the past several decades it has turned out 136 All-Americans and had numerous squads finish with Top 20 NCAA national rankings, including the highest finish at the NCAA tournament as 2nd in 1939.[40] Under coach Greg Strobel, recent teams have dominated the EIWA (The Patriot League does not sponsor wrestling). On April 15, 2008, the athletic department announced the hiring of former assistant coach and two-time national champion and two-time winner of the EIWA Coach of the Year (2009, 2012) Pat Santoro as Lehigh's next head wrestling coach.[41] Home dual meets and tournaments take place on campus at the Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall.[42] Grace Hall has historically been the site of Lehigh's matches, but in 2013 the entirety of the building had been converted into the Caruso Wrestling Complex, with a visiting area and a 'Wall of Fame'. The latter lists various Lehigh National Champions, in their respective weight class.

Goodman Stadium on the Murray H. Goodman Campus.

In 2017, Lehigh wrestler and Bethlehem native Darian Cruz won the NCAA national wrestling tournament, [43] becoming the team's first National Champion wrestler since Zach Rey won the heavyweight title in 2011. After Cruz won the title in 2017, the Mayor of Bethlehem honored him and the Lehigh wrestling team, officially declaring April 4, 2017 as "Darian Cruz Day" in the city of Bethlehem [44]

"The Rivalry"[edit]

Main article: Lehigh-Lafayette football games (The Rivalry)

Lehigh University is notable for its rivalry in sports and academics with nearby Lafayette College. Since 1884, the two football teams have met 150 times, making "The Rivalry" the most played in the history of college football. It is also the longest uninterrupted rivalry in college football, with the teams playing at least once every year since 1897. This game is sold out long before gameday each year. For the 150th meeting, the teams played in Yankee Stadium in New York City on November 22, 2014; Lafayette won, 27-7.

Greek letter organizations[edit]

A large majority of Lehigh's social fraternities and sororities have their own university-owned houses; most of the fraternities and sororities are on the "Hill" along Upper and Lower Sayre Park Roads. Approximately 34% of undergraduates are members of a fraternity or sorority. During new member education, Greek membership rises to almost 45%. There are 14 fraternities[45], all of which are housed on campus, and 8 sororities, all of which are housed on campus:[46]

NIC fraternities[edit]

NPC sororities[edit]

CGC fraternities and sororities[edit]

1.^ Non-Residential.

In addition to the 31 social fraternities and sororities, there are also a number of professional and honor fraternities and sororities on campus. It is most well known for Tau Beta Pi the engineering honor society since it was founded at Lehigh.[47]

Professional fraternities and sororities[edit]

Honor societies[edit]

1.^ Non-Affiliated with the Association of College Honor Societies

Spirit and traditions[edit]

Lehigh students have several lasting traditions: Lehigh's school colors, brown and white, date back to 1874, and the school newspaper of the same name was first published in 1894.

Following the death of Asa Packer in May 1879, the University established "Founder's Day" to be held in October to remember and recognize those have contributed to the success of the University. The event remains an annual tradition.

Freshmen are traditionally inducted into the University in a convocation in the Zoellner Arts Center and welcomed at a Freshman-Alumni Rally where their class flag is given to them by the class from fifty years before.

Until the 1970s, freshmen wore small brown hats with their class numbers called "dinks" from the beginning of the fall semester until the Lafayette football game. The week leading up to the big game was full of festivities created to unite the students and fuel spirit. In one of these events, "The Pajama Parade," the freshmen were led across the penny toll bridge in their pajamas singing "We Pay No Tolls Tonight" to the Moravian College dormitories where they would serenade the women. The week before the game still involves decoration of the Greek houses, a bonfire, parties, rallies and the Marching 97 performing unexpectedly during classes the Friday before the game.[citation needed]

Sesquicentennial class[edit]

In January 2012, Lehigh announced plans to celebrate the University's 150th anniversary in 2015. A steering committee was formed that oversaw planning and implementation of the university's celebratory events. The sesquicentennial year coincided with the class of 2016's senior year. “Lehigh's 150th anniversary will provide an opportunity to celebrate the university's founding and its wonderful traditions, and to focus on its direction for the future,” said then-president Alice Gast.[48]

Notable people[edit]

Alumni[edit]

Main article: List of Lehigh University alumni

Notable alumni include:

Faculty[edit]

Notable faculty members include:

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ As of June 30, 2016. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2015 to FY 2016" (PDF). National Association of College and University Business Officers and Commonfund Institute. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e "University Statistics". .lehigh.edu. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  3. ^ "About: Hallmarks & Traditions Brown & White - Lehigh University". www1.lehigh.edu.
  4. ^ "They Broke the Coed Barrier". lehigh.edu.
  5. ^ a b "University Statistics | Lehigh University". .lehigh.edu. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  6. ^ Gross, Ken (February 19, 1990). "After Their Daughter Is Murdered at College, Her Grieving Parents Mount a Crusade for Campus Safety". People.com. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  7. ^ "Complying With The Jeanne Clery Act". Securityoncampus.org. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  8. ^ "National campus safety issues are focus of summit". 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  9. ^ "Driving Directions to Lehigh from New York, Philadelphia". Maps.google.com. January 1, 1970. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  10. ^ "Message from the President on Stabler Foundation Gift". lehigh.edu. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  11. ^ "America's Top Colleges 2018". Forbes. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  12. ^ "U.S. College Rankings 2018". Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  13. ^ "Best Colleges 2019: National Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. November 19, 2018.
  14. ^ "2018 Rankings - National Universities". Washington Monthly. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  15. ^ "QS World University Rankings® 2018". Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  16. ^ "World University Rankings 2019". THE Education Ltd. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  17. ^ "Best Global Universities Rankings: 2019". U.S. News & World Report LP. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. 2019.
  19. ^ Graphic detail Charts, maps and infographics (October 29, 2015). "The value of university: Our first-ever college rankings". The Economist. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  20. ^ a b Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 25 Undergraduate Colleges Entrepreneur.com. Retrieved 2012-10-08.
  21. ^ Zhao, Emmeline (June 30, 2010). "Top 20: Colleges That Offer Best Return on Investment - Real Time Economics". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  22. ^ "World University Rankings 2012-2013". Times Higher Education. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  23. ^ "Academic Ranking of World Universities - 2013". ShanghaiRanking Consultancy. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  24. ^ "QS World University Rankings 2013/14". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  25. ^ "Lehigh University Class Profile". Lehigh University.
  26. ^ "Chart Showing Undergraduate Enrollment". .lehigh.edu. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  27. ^ Lehigh University – U.S. News & World Report.
  28. ^ "Stairways to Heaven: Escalators in the Vernacular". Terrastories.com. May 16, 2007. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  29. ^ "Packard, James Ward – Lehigh Engineering Heritage Initiative". Heritage.web.lehigh.edu. April 20, 2011. Archived from the original on June 19, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  30. ^ "Tau Beta Pi Founder, Dr. Edward Higginson Williams, Jr". Tbp.org. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  31. ^ a b BusinessWeek rankings.
  32. ^ "The Best Part-Time MBA Programs". www.usnews.com. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  33. ^ "College of Arts & Sciences". Cas.lehigh.edu. Archived from the original on December 10, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  34. ^ "Department of English". Lehigh.edu. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  35. ^ ArtsLehigh Archived July 10, 2012, at Archive.today from the Lehigh website
  36. ^ "COE Alumni page". Lehigh.edu. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  37. ^ " "Lehigh joins a national effort to promote students' health". Lehigh.edu. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  38. ^ a b "Graduation Home Page". lehighsports.com. January 28, 2013. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013.
  39. ^ Housenick, Tom (March 16, 2012). "NCAA basketball: Lehigh pulls off monumental upset of Duke". MCall.com. The Morning Call. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  40. ^ "LU Wrestling History" (PDF). Lehigh University Athletics. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  41. ^ "LU Wrestling Pat Santoro Bio". Lehigh University Athletics. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  42. ^ "LU Wrestling Arena". Lehigh University Athletics. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  43. ^ Fierro, Nick. "Lehigh's Darian Cruz captures NCAA wrestling championship at 125 pounds". The Morning Call. Morning Call. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  44. ^ LehighValleyLive Staff. "'Darian Cruz Day': Lehigh's national champ honored in Bethlehem". Lehigh Valley Live. Lehigh Valley Live. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  45. ^ "Message Regarding Unrecognized Groups". Lehigh Greek Community. Lehigh OFSA.
  46. ^ "Fraternities and Sororities". Lehigh University Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  47. ^ "Organizations Directory". Lehigh University Office of Student Activities. Archived from the original on March 26, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  48. ^ Steering committee named for 150th celebration Lehigh.edu. Retrieved 2012-09-27.

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 40°36.43′N 75°22.74′W / 40.60717°N 75.37900°W / 40.60717; -75.37900

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