Congratulations! As a family member of a newly admitted Lehigh student, you have undoubtedly been instrumental in their educational pursuits. Their academic excellence plus your support has proven to be a winning combination!
Our office recognizes your important role in your student’s transition process. We are excited to have a healthy level of involvement from you and other family members as we seek to provide support for the student’s academic, professional and personal development processes.
This web site is intended to provide you with the resources to help you and your student successfully navigate their transition from high school to college. We offer tips for parents, answer the most frequently asked questions, and provide you with a recommended reading list. In addition, we welcome you to the Bethlehem community with information about hotels and local restaurants.
Again we say congratulations and welcome!
Our Philosophy: Parents as Partners
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. The stronger the partnership between families and the University community, the more we are able to help our students achieve their educational and personal goals. As educators, our role is to assist students in their journey to self reliance and independence while understanding and supporting your needs to be informed of their progress.
We know that it is not just students going through a big adjustment. To help answer your questions and provide some additional resources, we offer a one day Family Orientation. We strongly encourage families to attend. Even if you have already attended orientation at a different institution, it’s a great way to learn more about Lehigh and the resources we offer. It is held on either:
- Monday, August 17—Ideal for families of students participating in the Marching Band, a preLUsion program, LUSSI, ROTC or International Student Orientation.
- Thursday, August 20—This program is open to all families.
The Monday Orientation will contain the same sessions and content, so there is no need to come back later in the week! Schedules will be posted in July.
The Summer Webinar series will introduce you to a variety of campus resources, provide support on discussions that may be helpful before their arrival, and to introduce 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 and posted on our webpage along with a variety of other resources.
Over the summer the Office of the First-Year Experience will send emails to parents or family members approximately once per week. You will not receive every email that students receive and you will not have access to your student’s Summer Checklist, but we want to keep you informed throughout the summer as you help to prepare your student for their college transition.
Our email list is provided from the contact information students provided during their application for admission to Lehigh. If you are not receiving our emails, please contact us at fye@lehigh.edu. Include your name and preferred email address along with your student’s name. All emails will also be available on our website.
Visit our FAQ page for frequently asked questions about Move-In, Orientation, Housing, Billing, Technology, Mailing, Where to stay, Things to do in Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley, and more.
The Family Field Guide is intended to assist you and your student with the transition to Lehigh, placing special emphasis on the services available to your student. It will enable you to advise them as they navigate the complexities of the first year college experience. You will learn about student support services, from academic support and career counseling to student involvement and battling homesickness. In addition, we will introduce you to the Bethlehem community with history of the area, places to stay, where to eat, and things to do while you are here in the Lehigh Valley.
The 2026-2027 Family Field Guide will be available at our Family Tent during preLUsion and Orientation Check-in.