To make institutional data easy to find and manage, Lehigh organizes data into broad Data Domains representing high-level, major university functions. Within the Data Domains are grouped subsets of data, or Data Subdomains. Data Subdomains break down large domains into manageable operational categories where specific business rules, subject matter expertise, and source systems exist. Data Stewards and Data Managers are appointed at the Data Subdomain level. Explore Lehigh's Data Subdomains below.
Employee Data Domain
Faculty Data
Data pertaining to the administration and management of faculty credentials, employment, academic appointments, sabbaticals, and Act 153 compliance. The data enables the Provost's Office to maintain accurate records for annual review, reappointment, tenure, promotion, triennial review and professional activity reporting. The data in this subdomain naturally intersects with data in the Student Record, Instructional Data, and Staff Data subdomains.
Staff Data
Data pertaining to the administration and management of the non-faculty staff employment lifecycle, positional attributes, compensation and benefits, performance evaluation, professional development, and regulatory compliance. This data enables Human Resources and Payroll Offices to manage recruitment, onboarding, time and attendance, benefits administration, position control, organizational hierarchy, labor distribution, and staff reporting. The data in this subdomain naturally intersects with data in the Faculty Data, Finance & Treasury, Institutional Research, Student Record, and Core/Enterprise subdomains.
External Engagement Data Domain
Brand & Reputation
The data included in this subdomain relates to Lehigh’s brand and reputation, encompassing brand health survey data, brand campaign outcome and activity metrics, reputation tracking, community survey data, and other associated information. The data is collected via both internal reporting and external partner data collection agencies. This data is initially harvested via a combination of unique in-market survey work, evaluation of existing information, and extrapolation of third party, existing data sources. The data in this subdomain naturally intersects with data in the Community Outreach, Constituent Engagement, and Admissions subdomains.
Community Outreach
The Community Outreach data subdomain encompasses data related to Lehigh University's outreach, partnerships, programs, and engagement with communities beyond the university. This includes information about community partnerships and organizations, outreach activities and events, volunteerism and service, community-based programs and initiatives, and participation and outcomes associated with university-community engagement. These data support the development, coordination, assessment, and communication of Lehigh's relationships and contributions to local and broader communities. The data in this subdomain naturally intersects with data in the Brand & Reputation, Constituent Engagement, Student Record, Institutional Research, and other subdomains supporting community engagement, experiential learning, and external partnerships.
Constituent Engagement
Data pertaining to how Lehigh interacts, communicates, and builds relationships with its key stakeholders, including alumni, parents, community/industry partners, prospects, and donors. It serves as the single source of truth for tracking touchpoints such as Development & Alumni Relations event attendance, philanthropic giving, email campaigns, and volunteer histories. Ultimately, this subdomain enables the institution to analyze relationship strength and deliver personalized, targeted outreach that fosters lifelong institutional engagement. The data in this subdomain naturally intersects with data in the Brand & Reputation, Community Outreach, Contribution Data, and Alumni Data subdomains.
Finance Data Domain
Auxiliary Services
The Auxiliary Services subdomain encompasses data generated by the university's self-supporting service operations, including bookstore/retail, childcare, conference services, dining services, housing services, mail and postal services, parking and transportation, printing services, surplus property and logistics, trademark/licensing, and vending and laundry services. This data covers customer/user transactions, service usage, account activity, and operational records created through the delivery of these services, from point of intake through reporting; long-term financial retention and archival of related billing and payment records is managed jointly with Finance & Treasury. The data in this subdomain naturally intersects with data in the Finance & Treasury subdomain.
Contribution Data
Data pertaining to philanthropic giving, financial donations, and in-kind gifts made to Lehigh by alumni, corporate partners, and friends. It tracks critical financial details such as transaction histories, pledge commitments, fund allocations, and donor recognition tiers. This subdomain ensures strict compliance with governmental, industry, and institutional auditing standards while providing the insights needed to measure fundraising efficacy and steward donor generosity effectively. The data in this subdomain naturally intersects with data in the Constituent Engagement, Finance & Treasury, Financial Aid, and Alumni Data subdomains.
Finance & Treasury
Finance & Treasury Data includes the information used to manage the university's finances and support its financial operations. This includes accounting, financial reporting, treasury activities, payroll, purchasing, budgeting, debt, investments, and related compliance processes. These data help ensure accurate financial management, support decision-making, and provide transparency across the institution. The data in this subdomain naturally intersects with the operational functions of most of the other subdomains.
Infrastructure & Information Technology Data Domain
Core/Enterprise
Data pertaining to the operation of enterprise wide systems that are not associated directly with a functional area's unique set of data. This data may be used for running of a system, integration between systems, or to ensure commonality of shared foundational data utilized across systems. This subdomain potentially intersects with any other datasets existing in the systems used at Lehigh.
Facilities & Space Data
This subdomain definition is in progress. Check back soon for more information.
Information Security
The Information Security Data subdomain encompasses all data generated, collected, and utilized to protect Lehigh University’s digital infrastructure, intellectual property, and institutional privacy. This operational scope supports critical university activities including continuous threat monitoring, vulnerability management, incident response, identity authentication, and regulatory compliance auditing. The data in this subdomain naturally intersects with data in the Core/Enterprise, Infrastructure, and other subdomains regarding data access governance and endpoint protection.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure data includes operational data that can be used to manage and secure Lehigh’s campus cyberinfrastructure. This data includes infrastructure availability, usage, ISP, networking, telecommunications, wireless, system and application access, and other data. The data in this subdomain intersects with data in the Information Security, Facilities & Space Data subdomains.
Library
Data pertaining to the procurement of and access to library resources from books, to electronic resources, news, and databases. This data includes library facilities usage, program participation, sharing of library skills and expertise, and stewardship and advancement efforts. The data in this subdomain intersects with the Student Record, Finance & Treasury, Research Administration, Facilities & Space, Core/Enterprise subdomains.
Public Safety
This subdomain definition is in progress. Check back soon for more information.
Real Estate Services Data
The Real Estate Services subdomain encompasses data supporting the university's acquisition, disposition, leasing, and management of real property, including property acquisition and leasing activity, lease and rental agreements (tenant and lease term data), property records and titles, property maintenance and capital project data, and off-campus housing partnerships. It also includes unstructured data such as real estate sale and lease agreements, master developer agreements, property management contracts, architectural drawings, and environmental reports. The data in this subdomain naturally intersects with data in the Finance & Treasury and Facilities subdomains.
Research & Institutional Compliance Data Domain
Institutional Research
Data comprises responses from Lehigh's core institutional surveys that are designed to gather feedback from the campus community to drive University decision-making. These surveys are administered to various Lehigh populations, and capture information such as climate perception, expectations and lived experiences, college preparation and career outcomes. The data in this subdomain intersects with data in the Student Record, Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, Financial Aid, Staff Data, and Faculty Data subdomains.
Research Administration Data
This subdomain governs the data generated by Lehigh’s research enterprise, facilitating core processes such as grant proposals, contract submissions, ethical compliance (IRB/RCR), sponsored research management and internal research initiatives. It captures the foundational data that empowers Lehigh’s research activities, establishes oversight for research data across its complete lifecycle, spanning initial submission, award management to closeout and actively tracks long-term archiving and disposition. The data in this subdomain intersects with data in the Finance & Treasury and Faculty Data subdomains.
Student Data Domain
Admissions - Graduate
Data pertaining to the recruitment, application, evaluation, admission, and enrollment of prospective graduate students, from initial inquiry through applicant record archival. This data supports graduate recruitment, admissions processing, application review, communications, enrollment management, and admissions reporting. The data in this subdomain intersects with data in the Student Record, Financial Aid, Institutional Research, Brand & Reputation, and Finance & Treasury subdomains.
Admissions - Undergraduate
Data pertaining to the recruitment, application, evaluation, admission, and enrollment decision processes for undergraduate applicants, from initial prospect inquiry or application intake through final admissions disposition, matriculation handoff, archival, and records retention. This data supports undergraduate recruitment strategy, application review, admissions decisions, enrollment planning, marketing and communications, reporting, and compliance activities. The data in this subdomain intersects with data in the Student Record, Financial Aid, Institutional Research, and Brand/Reputation subdomains.
Alumni Data
Data pertaining to Lehigh's graduates once they complete their academic journeys. It tracks vital information such as current contact details, employment history, degree achievements, and institutional affinities or preferences. This subdomain provides the essential foundation for cultivating lifelong relationships, driving targeted fundraising campaigns, and measuring the long-term career success of the institution's graduates. The data in this subdomain intersects with data in the Constituent Engagement, Contribution Data, and Student Record subdomains.
Financial Aid
The Financial Aid data subdomain encompasses information used to determine, award, disburse, and monitor financial assistance provided to students throughout their educational journey at Lehigh University. This includes data related to financial need analysis, eligibility determination, cost of attendance, aid applications, awards, fund management, satisfactory academic progress, federal and institutional compliance requirements, and the communication of financial aid information to students and families. The data in this subdomain intersects with data in the Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Admissions, Finance & Treasury, Student Accounts & Billing, and Student Record subdomains.
Instructional Data
Instructional data encompasses the information created and used across the lifecycle of course and program delivery at Lehigh, including course design materials, records of student engagement and participation, student-generated artifacts, analytical artifacts (such as data models, dashboards, metrics, and predictive insights) generated for instructional evaluation, and program-level assessment data used for curriculum review and accreditation. The data in this subdomain intersects with data in the Student Record, Faculty Data, Institutional Assessment, and Institutional Research subdomains.
Student Accounts & Billing
Data required to provide accurate bills and information to students, parents, University departments, and outside companies, in order to efficiently collect and deposit the financial resources required to operate the University. This data includes bursar’s information, billing, payments, deposits, loan servicing, and student health insurance enrollment plans.The data in this subdomain intersects with data in the Staff Data, Community Outreach, Auxiliary Services, Finance & Treasury, Real Estate Services Data, Research Administration Data, Admissions - Graduate & Undergraduate, Financial Aid, and Student Records subdomains.
Student Record
All information protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 not described in the other subdomains. This includes data generated during a student's active academic tenure, beginning the first day the student starts attending classes and extending through graduation or separation from the university. The data in this subdomain naturally intersects with other subdomains containing student information.