Dear Faculty and Staff,

Welcome to a new academic year at Lehigh Carbon Community College. Convocation is one of my favorite traditions because it brings us together to celebrate who we are, reflect on how far we have come, and renew our commitment to the students and communities we serve.

Whether you are returning to campus or joining LCCC for the first time, I am grateful for the passion, expertise, and dedication you bring to our college every day.

Higher education continues to evolve, and so do we. At LCCC, we are embracing change not simply to keep pace with the future, but to help shape it. Together, we are transforming our college into an even more innovative, student-centered institution—one that is responsive to the needs of learners, employers, and our communities while remaining steadfast in our mission of providing accessible, high-quality education.

This academic year also marks an important milestone as we finalize our Middle States Self-Study Report and prepare for the Team Chair’s visit this October, followed by the full peer review team visit in March 2027. Accreditation is much more than a process, it is an opportunity to reflect on our achievements, evaluate our effectiveness, and demonstrate the strength of our institution. The Self-Study reflects the dedication and contributions of colleagues across every area of the College, and I thank everyone who has participated in this important work. As we prepare for these visits, I know our collective commitment to excellence, continuous improvement, and student success will showcase the very best of Lehigh Carbon Community College.

The State of the College forum will be held during Convocation at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 18. All the documents related to the return to the semester are available in a shared drive, including the schedule of events. Please note the coordinator’s meeting, division meetings, other pre-semester meetings and the Adjunct Convocation will be identified on the Convocation drive with an email sent from Academic Services on Monday, August 10.  The schedule is revised as events are confirmed, please check this link for updates

As we gather for Convocation, I encourage you to reconnect with colleagues, build new relationships, exchange ideas, and embrace the excitement that comes with a new academic year. The challenges before us are significant, but so are the opportunities. What makes LCCC exceptional is not simply our programs or facilities, it is our people. Your creativity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to student success define who we are as an institution.

Thank you for all that you do for our students, one another, and the communities we proudly serve. I look forward to celebrating our successes and building an extraordinary year together.

I wish you a wonderful Convocation and a successful academic year.

Sincerely,
Dr. Ann D. Bieber, President

Lehigh Carbon Community College received a $1.43 million grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through its Empower to Grow Program. This funding will support specialized employee training in advanced manufacturing, electrical and mechanical engineering, and electronics for local businesses in Lehigh, Carbon, and Schuylkill counties. The goal is to help these businesses improve their workflow and productivity.

For more details, check out the full article on WFMZ.com.

On Monday, August 10, and Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 7:30 AM, the IT team will perform a back-end security update to systems on the Portal network, including file servers and other network-attached devices. During the update, you might notice a few brief disruptions:

Temporary Disconnects: You may be briefly disconnected from Wi-Fi or have to re-authenticate for access to Wi-Fi.

Banner: Logins through Okta should not be affected.

Tip: If any applications or Wi-Fi exhibit access issues or atypical behavior, please restart your workstation or device.

We thank you for your patience as we continue cybersecurity improvements to keep LCCC secure!

LCCC IT Support Service

610-799-1994

helpme@lccc.edu

https://help.lccc.edu

L-C-C-C, LCCC is the place to be!

Join the Office of College Relations and Student Life for our Welcome Week Pep Rally on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 12 – 12:30 p.m. in the Berrier Hall Gymnasium. Celebrate a new academic year with new and returning students alike. Stop by for welcoming remarks from Dr. Ann Bieber, President of LCCC, an inspirational speech by LCCC alumna, Brittani Bedoya, free giveaways, popcorn, food and a gauntlet relay race hosted by the Recreation Sports and Wellness Team. The whole campus community is invited to attend.

Please email Daniel Melin, Director of Student Life, at dmelin@lccc.edu with any questions. We hope to see you there!

Please join the Faculty Coaches virtually through Zoom on the First Tuesdays of September, November, and February for an innovative series of AI conversations.

September 1, 2026 at 2:30pm with Mary Engle, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Engineering

“Assessment and AI – A Two Lane Approach”

Are you struggling to design assessments that are secure and relevant in the AI era? Join us to address these urgent technological realities. Participants will learn how to transition from AI policing to a more sustainable “Two-Lane” assessment framework. Discover highly practical design strategies for your courses, including how to adapt vulnerable assignments and how to guide productive and ethical AI use. By the end of the session, you will be equipped with classroom blueprints and a concrete three-step review model to immediately begin redesigning your syllabus for the AI-enabled world.

November 3, 2026 at 2:30pm with Mary Engle, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Engineering and Karen Wotring, Associate Professor of Nursing

“Getting Started with AI in the Classroom: Transforming Your Course Materials into Interactive Experiences”

Unlock the potential of generative AI by transforming your course materials into interactive learning tools. This hands-on workshop will use the powerful duo of Gemini Notebook and Gemini to “program” custom learning experiences. Guided by the “Instructors as Innovators” framework, you will leverage your own pedagogical expertise to design sophisticated simulations, tutors, or co-creation tools tailored to your specific course needs. We will provide the “blueprints” to help you build quality interactions – no experience required. By the end of this session, you will have a classroom-ready AI activity specifically grounded in your own assignments and rubrics.

February 2, 2027 at 2:30 with Mary Engle, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Engineering

“Reclaiming Human Value in the AI enhanced Classroom”

When AI can instantly write essays, solve complex equations, and generate code, students are no longer asking “How do I use this tool?” but “What is left for me to do?” As educators, our mission now includes helping students discover and own their Human Value. This powerful session explores the Human-in-the-Loop philosophy. We will dive deep into why human intuition, ethical agency, critical thinking, and lived experience are more valuable now than ever before. Attendees will leave with specific, immediately applicable, classroom-ready AI based activities designed to empower your students to recognize, reclaim, and articulate their unique value in an AI-driven world.

Please use this Zoom Link to join us for this timely and useful coaching conversation!

The LCCC Fall Open House is set for November 4, 2026 in the CSC Ballrooms from 5:00-7:00 p.m. (tables ready to go by 4:00 p.m.)

Start thinking about how you want to present your program/department/services! More details and the staff registration form to come.

According to the current “Purchasing Requirements for Goods and Services,” items costing more than $5,000 but less than $20,000 may be purchased only after soliciting quotations from at least two (2) different vendors.  In some instances, however, it may not be possible or feasible to obtain quotations.

The Purchasing department recently developed a Single/Sole Source Justification form to be submitted with purchase requisitions in such cases where it wasn’t possible to secure alternate quotes or proposals.  The Justification form provides clear, compelling, and defensible evidence in the event of an audit, and can be located here.

In the event a requisition is submitted without the form, the Purchasing & Contract Manager will provide it to the requisitioner for completion, prior to issuing a purchase order.

Club and honor society advisors are now required to submit a newly developed Student Extracurricular Trip Request Form through the myLCCC portal, under Faculty and Staff Resources, Forms, College Relations and Marketing. You can also find the form here.

Please note that academic trips must be processed through the requester’s respective Dean. Contact Daniel Melin, Director of Student Life, at dmelin@lccc.edu or 610-799-1146 with any questions.

Check out the Summer 2026 Online Learning Department Newsletter for key updates on course accessibility tools, upcoming Convocation workshops, and new Canvas features like IgniteAI translations. You will find details on self-paced training opportunities, the ongoing RSI and Accessibility Compliance Peer Review process, and step-by-step guides for Canvas features. Please review the attached newsletter to stay informed, read about AI-integrated classroom strategies, and see this month’s recognized badge earners!

Instructors, August means it is time to review your course syllabus and materials as you prepare for another exciting year at LCCC! If you are looking to try something new this year in your classes or learn about evidence-based practices, consider making a confidential appointment with Faculty Coach, Wendy Barron.

Professor Barron can help you create more effective lessons, improve your teaching skills, and provide solid, constructive advice for this upcoming school year. Appointments can be in person or virtual depending, on your preference.

Professor Wendy Barron has been nominated for her work with LCCC and not-for-profits around the Lehigh Valley. Voting is from August 1 to August 30th. VOTE NOW

To learn more about Professor Barron, please refer to the brief bio here.

Dreaming of a relaxing getaway? Enter the Pinehurst Raffle for a chance to win a one-week stay in beautiful Pinehurst, North Carolina, while supporting the Tony Boyle Memorial Golf Classic.

The raffle prize, generously donated by Kent Newhart, LCCC Foundation Board Director Emeritus and LCCC alumnus, includes a one-week stay in a private vacation home with access to Pinehurst golf courses and dozens of additional local courses.

Tickets:

1 for $30

4 for $100

You do not need to be present to win.

Proceeds from the raffle benefit the Tony Boyle Memorial Golf Classic, supporting student scholarships through the Lehigh Carbon Community College Foundation.

Purchase your tickets today and support student success while entering for a chance to win an unforgettable getaway.

Finance is excited to announce that the Travel Request Form has been upgraded to a Dynamic Form. It is available now on the LCCC Portal.

We are happy to provide training or answer any questions. Do not hesitate to reach out to Maria Bowen at mbowen4@lccc.edu or Mary Decker at mdecker@lccc.edu.

Come on out to Coca-Cola Park on Saturday, August 29th, to see the Lehigh Valley IronPigs take on the Syracuse Mets! Each ticket purchased includes a $5 ballpark credit that can be used toward food, drinks, or merchandise at the team store.  Grab your seats today in section 105 along the first baseline!  Students, faculty, staff, family, and friends welcome.

First pitch is at 6:35 p.m., with the gates opening at 5:15 p.m.

Wear your LCCC gear – we may just be on the jumbotron!

Come for the game, stay for the prizes! Every attendee gets a chance to win two $25 Mission BBQ gift cards PLUS an LCCC swag bag. 

Order tickets here