Lehigh University Addresses Campus Climate Survey Findings

Officials shared new harassment data and launched a bystander training program at a town hall meeting.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in College Life

Bold vector editorial illustration showing an isolated stone architectural archway, representing structural campus belonging and community. — Lehigh University officials introduced a new 'Belonging' framework and bystander training program to improve campus safety following recent climate survey findings. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust your local university to effectively handle reports of discrimination on campus?

Lehigh University leaders presented recent Campus Climate Survey results and introduced a new Belonging framework to combat harassment. The initiative follows a period of assessment regarding racial incidents on the Bethlehem campus.

Why it matters

The university conducted the survey to measure levels of discrimination among the student body following previous racial incidents. The resulting data is now shaping new community-building and training strategies to improve campus safety.

The survey recorded that 44% of non-binary, 30% of transgender, and 45% of Muslim respondents experienced harassment or discrimination. University targets now include enrolling 25% of students in new Title VI bystander training.

The players

Lehigh University

A private research university located in Bethlehem that is currently implementing strategic initiatives to address campus climate.

The details

At an October 21 town hall at the Fairchild-Martindale Library, officials introduced a Four Level Belonging framework focused on self, campus, profession, and world. The university plans to integrate specific belonging questions into at least 50% of academic and administrative units by spring 2027.

The A Lehigh for Everyone strategic plan began in 2022.
The Campus Climate Survey was open from March 16, 2026, to April 17, 2026.
A town hall meeting was held at the library on October 21, 2026.
Strategic initiative work continues into the spring 2027 semester.

Culture Shift

Lehigh University is aligning its new student training program with the protections established by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This move reflects a broader trend of institutions formalizing bystander intervention to address identity-based discrimination on campus.

Students and faculty can expect to see new belonging questions integrated into academic and administrative units. The university also aims to train 25 to 30 facilitators to guide community-building conversations involving at least 500 students.

The takeaway

The university is prioritizing systemic changes to address reported instances of harassment among marginalized student groups. Students are encouraged to participate in upcoming training sessions to assist in creating a more inclusive campus environment.