Orientation
YES! During Orientation you will be divided up into small groups. All group meetings are required. This is our chance to show students the ropes to college life and provide them with multitudes of resources to help them succeed at Lehigh, both in and out of the classroom. Students will meet faculty, upper-class student leaders, an academic advisor and learn about resources available while making new friends!
Yes! This is where you will get helpful information and meet other transfer students. You will not be able to register for future semesters if you don’t attend!
Details about move-in will be available this summer in accordance with CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines. Information will be sent directly to you via email and will be available in your portal when it is confirmed. Move-in will take place Monday, August 16 through Thursday, August 19. Students will be able to select a move-in date and time on their Housing and Dining Self-Service page starting in mid July, after housing assignments are announced.
Check out the What to Bring to Lehigh page for a complete list of things you might need to bring with you on Move-In Day.
Orientation begins the afternoon of Thursday August 19. The Orientation Schedule will be available later in the summer.
Academics
You will register for courses in July. Throughout the month of June important updates and information regarding the registration process will be posted on your student portal and will also be sent to your Lehigh University email address. It is very important that you monitor your email regularly, as we continuously send additional information to prepare you for registration. Keep an eye out for emails about when and how to register, videos reviewing how to utilize the registration system, and advice from your college advisors.
Your first year at Lehigh you will be required to take some introductory level courses that most upper-class students have already taken, so you are not competing with them during your course request process. Courses that you are required to take during your first year (e.g. Engineering 1) will be scheduled so that all students needing those courses will get into a section.
Classes will begin Monday, August 23, 2021. Check out the academic calendar.
Every textbook for every course can be found at your campus bookstore, a branch of Barnes & Noble. They have the largest selection of used textbooks on campus, and convenient shelf tags throughout the store tell you exactly which textbooks are required for each course and list additional textbooks recommended by the course instructor. And their generous return policy offers cash back on unwanted textbooks year-round—no matter where you bought them. They accept all major credit cards, as well as personal checks, college or government financial aid program vouchers, school debit cards, and Barnes & Noble gift cards. If you prefer to reserve your textbooks online, visit lehigh.bncollege.com.
Technology
The network and software are generally compatible with both PCs and Macs. However, there are a few instances where Engineering students will need a PC or to use public sites in order to use the necessary software.
If you are in the market for a new computer check out this website with purchase information.
Pre-Orientation Programs
Lehigh offers pre-orientation programs, known as preLUsion, which start a few days prior to Orientation. These programs are designed to be fun and to help your transition to Lehigh by introducing you to staff and fellow new students. PreLUsion is a great way to meet other new students with similar interests that want to make the most out of their college experience!
We will not be able to host our typical 1-day Family Orientation. It is important to us that we still provide you with multiple ways to engage with campus and to learn about the resources available to you and your student.
We will host a summer webinar series which will also be recorded and available on our website with sessions from a variety of campus offices and departments.
There will also be sessions in August hosted by the colleges and university leadership welcoming you to Lehigh and providing helpful information. This virtual setting will allow us to offer even more sessions than we typically would have, and we hope it is informative!
If you are visiting campus to drop-off your student, we would love to see you in person! More information to come about a Family tent and offices encouraging visits. Please see our Family Information page for the most up-to-date information.
Family Information
We will not be able to host our typical 1-day Family Orientation. It is important to us that we still provide you with multiple ways to engage with campus and to learn about the resources available to you and your student.
We will host a summer webinar series which will also be recorded and available on our website with sessions from a variety of campus offices and departments.
There will also be sessions in August hosted by the colleges and university leadership welcoming you to Lehigh and providing helpful information. This virtual setting will allow us to offer even more sessions than we typically would have, and we hope it is informative!
If you are visiting campus to drop-off your student, we would love to see you in person! More information to come about a Family tent and offices encouraging visits. Please see our Family Information page for the most up-to-date information.
Housing
Lehigh assigns rooms based on desired housing and programmatic preferences. A random process will be utilized for all deposited students to determine your housing assignment along with others who have made similar selections. To accommodate all students, halls are pre-designated by gender based on enrollment. Once your residence hall is assigned, you are matched with a roommate using the information you provide through My College Roommate. If you request a student and he or she requests you, you will automatically be placed together.
You are matched with a roommate using the information you provide through My College Roommate. If you request a student and he or she requests you, you will automatically be placed together.
Room assignments and arrival information will be emailed through your Lehigh email in mid-July.
You can re-enter the housing contract and update your housing information. You can continue to search and add or change roommates through My College Roommate until the deadline. Assignments are processed in June; therefore, the application must be complete by the deadline in order for it to be considered.
For more Housing FAQ's visit Housing Services website.
Miscellaneous
You will submit your ID card photo on the campus portal in the summer. You will get your ID card when you check-in on Move-In Day. If you did not complete the application in advance you will need to go to the ID card office on 42 University Drive when you arrive.
Visit southsideartsdistrict.com and discoverlehighvalley.com for events and things to do in walking distance from campus and in the greater Lehigh Valley. Find Hotels near Lehigh University here.
Lehigh University students have several banking options located in Bethlehem. Lehigh students also have access to a full-service Wells Fargo bank branch and ATM located in the University Center. The Pennsylvania States Employee Credit Union (PSECU) operates a Financial Education Center at the Mountaintop Campus, Building C, 2nd Floor, and provides 3 ATM's in Lamberton, Taylor Gym, and Stabler Arena.
For additional questions not addressed here, please contact the Office of the First-Year Experience:
Phone: 610-758-1300
E-mail: fye@lehigh.edu