Case Study: Lehigh University achieves more inclusive strategic planning with IdeaScale

Inspiring the Future Makers with Strategic Planning

Lehigh University, a leading research university, needed a better way to gather ideas and feedback from students, faculty, and staff as it launched a 10-year strategic planning process through its new Office of Strategic Planning and Initiatives. The university wanted a single platform to centralize input, support open dialogue, and replace scattered planning documents, and turned to IdeaScale for help.

IdeaScale helped Lehigh University launch its “Our Future, Our Lehigh” community to collect feedback, refine ideas, and enable transparent, inclusive planning across campus. The effort generated strong engagement: 105 sessions, 2,444 unique participants, 383 ideas, 1,040 comments, and 4,859 votes. The insights helped Lehigh shape its 2023 strategic plan, “Inspiring the Future Makers,” and establish an ongoing feedback loop for future decision-making.

Lehigh University

Ilena Key

Chief Technology Officer