Peppercomm partnered with Lehigh’s communications and public affairs team to build a more comprehensive issues management framework. Through interviews with stakeholders across the university, we identified a broader range of reputational risks beyond campus protests, including international student application fraud, student conduct, controversial campus speakers, and reports of racism, antisemitism, and hate speech. Those challenges became even more complex following the 2024 presidential election.

Working alongside university leadership, Peppercomm developed a crisis response rubric that enabled decision-makers to rapidly assess reputational threats, engage the appropriate internal stakeholders, and respond with greater speed and confidence. We also implemented a daily issues monitoring program that tracked developments across higher education nationwide and evaluated their potential impact on Lehigh, providing leadership with timely insights and actionable guidance.