In our efforts to provide support for the transition of incoming students and their families, clear and comprehensive communication is essential. While we believe students are primarily responsible for their educational experience, we also acknowledge the integral role you play in the success of your students. Check this page for ongoing updates emailed out to families on our email list.
Summer 2023 Communication
Welcome to the Lehigh Family!
Our mission in the Office of First-Year Experience (OFYE) is to provide support and resources for the academic and social transition of new students and their families. We believe students are primarily responsible for their educational experience. We also acknowledge the integral role you, as parents and families, play in the success of your students. For more about our philosophy on parents and families as partners, please visit our family website.
We want to share some initial resources and information with you to help you as you go on this journey with your student.
Welcome Kit
The Welcome Kit is a helpful publication we ask students to carefully review. It has an abundance of information students need to know over the summer to be prepared for August. These were shipped to your student last week!
Lehigh Student Portal
The Lehigh Student Portal (go.lehigh.edu/lehighportal) is a one-stop-shop for important information. On Tuesday, May 16, students will be given access to new information on the portal. This page is just for first-year students and has been created to help them keep everything organized using the Summer Checklist. The Summer Checklist includes links to forms they must complete, important information to review, etc. and will ensure they don't miss any important deadlines over the summer. This is not something you will have access to, but we want you to know that it exists to help your student stay organized. (It is important for students to learn these responsibilities early on, which is why they are the only ones who should be accessing their portal.) Please note that there is no set time the portal will go live - it is a process and we will send an email to the students when the content should have switched over.
Email Reminder
Your student’s Lehigh email address will be ready for use Tuesday, May 16. Beginning May 17, ALL official university communications will be sent to their Lehigh email. We tell them to check their Lehigh email account often. If your student shares they are not receiving information, please encourage them to check their Lehigh email account.
Housing Information
The Housing Contract is available for students on their Summer Checklist starting May 19. In this contract they will submit housing preferences (such as their roommate preferences, themed community, and gender preferences) and choose a meal plan. The deadline to complete this is June 9.
PreLUsion Registration
If your student is interested in registering for one of our preLUsion programs, please note the link will go live at 3:00 PM EDT both on the summer checklist in the portal and on our prelusion webpage. This is an attempt to accommodate a multitude of time zones. PreLUsion scholarships applications are also available NOW!
Family Resources
We encourage you to check out the wealth of resources on our website – from the FAQ’s to the transition resources – we hope they will be helpful. The Lehigh Parents & Families webpage is also an incredible resource you should bookmark for the future. We will be in touch next week with more information about an exciting online summer webinar series to introduce you to university staff, campus resources, and helpful information as you work with your student to prepare for August.
Save the Date!
The Summer Webinar Series will kick off with a bang! Three webinars in one week to get us started for the summer. Please save the date for the Kick-Off to the Summer Webinar Series with the OFYE which will be held on zoom on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 7:00 PM EDT. If you are interested in learning more about the Housing Contract process, they Housing Services will host a webinar on Wednesday, May 17 at 8:00 PM EDT. Both sessions will be recorded and available afterwards.
We will continue to communicate with your student via email and will reach out to you every couple of weeks throughout the summer with updates.
You can contact us at the OFYE if you have questions at fye@lehigh.edu or (610) 758-1300.
As a family member of a newly admitted Lehigh student, you have undoubtedly been instrumental in their educational pursuits. Our Summer Webinar Series will introduce you to a variety of campus resources, provide support on discussions that may be helpful before their arrival, and introduce you to campus partners and administrators who will be instrumental in your student’s transition and success. We hope you will join us! Sessions will be recorded as appropriate and posted on our summer webinar webpage one week after each session.
Summer Schedule
REGISTER HERE for any or all of the webinars this summer!
Office of the First-Year Experience Welcome & Summer Webinar Kick-Off [Tuesday, May 16 at 7:00 P.M. EDT]
Completing your Housing Contract [Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 8:00 P.M. EDT]
Eco-Rep Leadership Program Information Session [Friday, May 19, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. EDT]
It’s Roommate Selection Time [Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 8:30 P.M. EDT]
Academic Support for Students [Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. EDT]
Talking with your Student About Alcohol [Monday, June 12, 2023 at 7:00 PM EDT]
Not Just "The Talk": How to Help Prepare Your New Student for College Relationships and Sexuality [Wednesday, June 13, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. EDT]
Tech Talk for First-Year Students and Families [Wednesday, June 21 at 7:00 P.M. EDT]
Lehigh University Police Department Information and Resources [Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. EDT
Preparing to Launch [Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. EDT]
Introduction to the Fraternity & Sorority Experience at Lehigh University [Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 6:30 P.M. EDT]
University Counseling & Psychological Services [Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. EDT]
Introduction & Overview of the Center for Career & Professional Development [Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 6:15 P.M. EDT]
Student Reminder Highlights
Your students’ portal will go live tomorrow with the summer checklist. Please encourage your student to visit the portal and check their Lehigh email often this summer for important information. The housing deadline is June 9! Health forms were mailed last week, but the forms and more information can be found on the Health & Wellness Center webpage. They are due July 15, but do often require a trip to the physician's office.
We look forward to engaging with you this summer and as we prepare for the start of the academic year!
To see previous emails sent to families of incoming students, please visit our communications webpage.
For more information about our resources and services for families, please explore our website.