Student Communications

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In our efforts to provide support for our students' transition to campus each August, we believe clear and comprehensive communication is essential. Beginning each May, students will begin to receive email communications to their Lehigh email addresses containing helpful checklists, resources and timelines. Below is a log of all those emails that have been sent so students and their families can stay up to date on the latest official communications to reference if needed. 

Summer 2023 Communication

May 3, 2023: First-Year Welcome Kit: Your Lehigh Experience Starts Here

Welcome to Lehigh and the Class of 2027! We are thrilled you are joining us. The Office of First-Year Experience is here to help you make your transition successful. We'll communicate throughout the summer to help you prepare for your arrival in August and continue to support you throughout your first-year. We want you to know that we are here to answer your questions and help you figure out how you'll make the most of your Lehigh journey.

Welcome Kit

The Welcome Kit is a helpful publication you should carefully review for everything you need to know over the summer to be prepared for August! It's important you read these pages carefully. A printed copy is in the mail!

Lehigh Student Portal

The Lehigh Student Portal (go.lehigh.edu/lehighportal) is your one-stop-shop for important information. On Tuesday, May 16, you will be given access to new information on the portal. This page is just for first-year students and has been created to help you keep everything organized using the Summer Checklist. The Summer Checklist includes links to forms you must complete, important information to review, etc. and will ensure you don't miss any important deadlines over the summer. Please note that there is no set time the portal will go live - it is a process and we will send an email when the content should have switched over.

Email Reminder

Your Lehigh email will be ready for use Tuesday, May 16. Beginning May 17, ALL official university communications will be sent to your Lehigh email. Be sure to check your Lehigh email account often.

Duo 2FA

Duo two-factor authentication (2FA) will be required of you to log into your Lehigh account. It provides an additional layer of protection for your computer account by verifying your identity at logon using two factors: something you know (your password), plus something you physically have (a mobile phone, for example). For more information about this service, please visit the Duo 2FA webpage.

PreLUsion Registration

For those of you 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.

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 at 7:00 PM EDT. If you are interested in learning more about the Housing Contract process, 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 you via email, so be sure to check your email often this summer. You can always contact us at the OFYE anytime questions come up at fye@lehigh.edu or (610) 758-1300.

May 15, 2023: Announcing the Summer Webinar Series

As an incoming student, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the items to do on the checklist, the email coming into your inbox, and the excitement of coming to campus and starting this new adventure. Our Summer Webinar Series will introduce you to a variety of campus resources, provide support on things that will be helpful before arrival, and introduce you to campus partners and administrators who will be instrumental in your transition and success. 

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]

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]

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]

We hope you will join us! You’ll see some additional sessions listed on the website that are more geared towards parent and family members as they continue to support you. Sessions will be recorded as appropriate and posted on our summer webinar webpage one week after each session.


To see previous emails sent to you from the OFYE, please visit our communications webpage.

For more information about our resources and services, please explore our website.

May 16, 2023: New portal information is now live!

New information on the Lehigh Student Portal is now live! This page is just for first-year students and has been created to help you keep everything organized.

Summer Checklist

You may now begin completing items on the Summer Checklist. It is important you follow along and complete items throughout the summer to ensure you're prepared for August. 

​preLUsion Registration

Jump-start your Lehigh career by signing up for a preLUsion program running from Monday, August 21 - Wednesday, August 23, 2023. You can register from the link on the Summer Checklist or directly from our website starting at 3:00 PM EDT on May 16, 2023. Please note that programs are offered on a first come, first served basis. If the cost of a preLUsion program is difficult to cover, there are opportunities to receive scholarship money from Lehigh University. Scholarship applications. Scholarship applications are open.

Email Reminder

Your Lehigh email is now ready for use! Beginning tomorrow, ALL official university communications will be sent to your Lehigh email. Be sure to check your Lehigh email account often. 

Housing Information

The Housing Contract is available for you on the Summer Checklist in the portal starting later this week.  The deadline to complete this portion of your first-year student responsibilities is June 9, 2023.

If you wish to petition for exemption of the first-year student residency requirement, you can download the form at http://go.lehigh.edu/exemption, and return it to Housing Services via email: inhouse@lehigh.edu.

​​Questions?

For questions related to housing, please contact Housing Services at 610-758-3500 or inhouse@lehigh.edu for additional assistance.

For questions related to the Summer Checklist, please contact the Office of the First-Year Experience at 610-758-1300 or fye@lehigh.edu.

Please note: If you have not opened your Lehigh computing account you will not see this new information. You must have opened your computing account and have your Lehigh credentials (Example: abc123). If you do not have this information, you will need to go to your Applicant Student Portal where you logged in using your personal email to open your account.

May 25, 2023: preLUsion Registration Filling Fast!

PreLUsion, a collection of nine optional pre-orientation programs, is designed to jump-start your college experience! It welcomes you to campus 3 days before Orientation begins and allows you to connect to Lehigh by engaging with a smaller community of students and staff who share similar interests. 

Programs are filling quickly! If you are interested in participating, please be sure to fill out the registration as soon as possible.

If the cost of a preLUsion program is difficult to cover, there are opportunities to receive scholarship money. The application is available on our prelusion website. The deadline to apply is June 23. 

Here's a preview of some of the exciting programs you can join that still have spots available!

Arts Alive
Calling all artists and arts-lovers! Meet with the Campus Engagement Manager and student leaders of Zoellner Arts Center to get a picture of the arts at Lehigh. Check out presentation from local arts leaders and get a backstage tour of Zoellner!

GlobaLehigh
Explore the global side of Lehigh by networking with Lehigh alumni working in international careers, meeting diplomats, and getting a behind the scenes tour of the United Nations.

Lehigh 360
Lehigh 360 will introduce you to all of the incredible high-impact, beyond the classroom learning opportunities that Lehigh has to offer - opportunities in creative inquiry, entrepreneurship, global engagement, the arts, community service, study abroad, research, leadership and beyond!

Lehigh Women Engineers (LWE)
Embark on your journey into the exciting world of engineering. Visit campus facilities and learn about opportunities that are available during your time at Lehigh.
​​​
Volunteer Experience (VE)
Immerse yourself in your new community by serving agencies in the Lehigh Valley. Community-oriented students will guide you through volunteer projects and fun events.

Check out full descriptions of the programs on the preLUsion website.
​​

June 6, 2023: An In Depth Look at Housing & Summer Checklist Reminders

It’s June, the school year is coming to an end, and there are exciting things on the checklist for you to complete to continue preparing for your arrival.

Housing Information

The housing contract went live on your housing self-service portal (go to connect.lehigh.edu and look for Housing & Dining under Student). It will be open until June 9. If you filled it out and want to change your preferences, you can simply fill it out again.

If you  missed the Housing Contract webinar, you can watch the recording here or visit the Housing Services website for step by step information on what to do. 

For more information about first-year housing, visit the Housing Services website. When you click on a specific location, you can see more information about the hall, what exactly the room includes, and take an interactive tour. You’ll definitely want to bookmark this for when you get your room assignment in July!

For disability related housing requests, please make sure your student submits their request on time.

For Housing and Meal Plan rates, please visit the website.

Specific information about the beds and measurements can be found on the Housing website.

Roommate matching will open on June 12 and close on June 23. There will be an additional webinar to walk you through this process this week on June 7 at 8:30 PM EDT.  You can sign up on the Summer Webinar webpage. The recording will be posted by the end of the week.

Summer Webinar Series

We have helpful webinars coming up in the month of June. Please sign up on our Summer Webinar Series webpage, or you can check out the recording a few days later if you are unable to attend.

It’s Roommate Selection Time - Wednesday, June 7 at 8:30 P.M. EDT

Academic Support for Students - Thursday, June 8 at 7:00 P.M. EDT

Accommodations 101: Successfully Navigating the Transition to University for Students with Disabilities - Monday, June 19 at 2:00 P.M. EDT

Tech Talk for First-Year Students and Families - Wednesday, June 21 at 7:00 P.M. EDT

Summer Checklist Reminders

Below are a few highlights but please be sure to return to the full list at go.lehigh.edu/lehighportal

  • Orientation Registration Due June 30 - Orientation is mandatory for all students but this form helps us gather some additional information including any physical accommodations your family may need when visiting for move-in, your restaurant choice for Faux Friday, your dietary restrictions, etc.

  • Student Health Forms Due July 14 -  forms must be signed by your doctor; vaccinations must be entered on the patient portal also

Don’t forget to continue to revisit the full Summer Checklist on the portal for May, June and July! 

For easy access to previous emails sent to you from the OFYE, please visit our communications webpage.