2008 Woodie Awards
RSSGast lists top priorities, defines long-term goals
By Elizabeth Murray
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: News
President Alice Gast announced plans for mid-range goals related to global initiatives, diversity on campus, enrollment, outreach and university governance at Lehigh at a town-hall-style meeting in Packard Laboratory 101 Thursday.
Long-term goals included identifying optimal faculty and staff, improving student life and increasing research and graduate programs.
Supporting goals included developing physical and information technology infrastructures that support the university's needs.
The global initiative involves a multi-directional approach to ensure that Lehigh's students are prepared for, and involved in, the international community, Gast said.
"The guiding principle is to ensure that internationalization, in all its dimensions, pervades the university's intellectual, cultural, and social life and becomes a signature of Lehigh," Gast said.
Jim Hwang, professor of electrical engineering, said the global initiative is an important step for Lehigh.
Hwang said other schools such as Drexel and Temple universities are heavily involved in international programs.
"Lehigh's done nothing in that regard to date," he said.
Gast said diversity can be achieved by working to build a community that is more reflective of society.
"Fostering a campus culture that embraces diversity," she said, "will advance the intellectual and social vitality of the Lehigh community."
Gast said the effort to improve diversity on campus will be achieved by creating a council of equity and community. The council will be comprised of faculty, staff and students working together to help Lehigh reach its goals for campus inclusion.
Amye Lee, '08, said Gast's diversity effort is one of the most important issues for Lehigh's student body today.
"I thought the council on equity and community was key for Lehigh," Lee said. "It's a step in the right direction for Lehigh to continue promoting diversity."
Gast also presented goals related to enrollment, which she said will be the focus of the May 2008 board of trustees meeting.
Long-term goals included identifying optimal faculty and staff, improving student life and increasing research and graduate programs.
Supporting goals included developing physical and information technology infrastructures that support the university's needs.
The global initiative involves a multi-directional approach to ensure that Lehigh's students are prepared for, and involved in, the international community, Gast said.
"The guiding principle is to ensure that internationalization, in all its dimensions, pervades the university's intellectual, cultural, and social life and becomes a signature of Lehigh," Gast said.
Jim Hwang, professor of electrical engineering, said the global initiative is an important step for Lehigh.
Hwang said other schools such as Drexel and Temple universities are heavily involved in international programs.
"Lehigh's done nothing in that regard to date," he said.
Gast said diversity can be achieved by working to build a community that is more reflective of society.
"Fostering a campus culture that embraces diversity," she said, "will advance the intellectual and social vitality of the Lehigh community."
Gast said the effort to improve diversity on campus will be achieved by creating a council of equity and community. The council will be comprised of faculty, staff and students working together to help Lehigh reach its goals for campus inclusion.
Amye Lee, '08, said Gast's diversity effort is one of the most important issues for Lehigh's student body today.
"I thought the council on equity and community was key for Lehigh," Lee said. "It's a step in the right direction for Lehigh to continue promoting diversity."
Gast also presented goals related to enrollment, which she said will be the focus of the May 2008 board of trustees meeting.
