Make a Difference
Break boundaries, think differently and translate theory to practice to address society’s most important challenges.
Critical challenges are best understood and addressed by bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences in pursuit of solutions. Students are best prepared to succeed when they learn to connect knowledge and skills across disciplines.
To realize our potential to impact the world’s critical challenges, universities must lower boundaries between disciplines as we pursue our research and educational missions. We will adopt radically interdisciplinary approaches to education and research, and expand opportunities for students to apply theory as they learn by doing. We will attract the best faculty, staff and students to create an environment in which we are addressing the most important questions. We will foster the development of interdisciplinary research and translation teams that connect solution-seekers with solution-makers.
To do this, we will:
Focus deeply in interdisciplinary research and education.
Lehigh will remove boundaries between disciplines to foster the most creative approaches to problem solving and learning. We will develop effective teams with the skills and experience to meet evolving societal needs. Our academic programs and structures will prepare our graduates to enter the workforce with both timely and timeless skills. We will choose to focus our efforts in vital research areas, investing where Lehigh can make the greatest impact. Our interdisciplinary research will tackle some of the world’s most complicated challenges and deliver tangible results.
Lead in student learning outcomes through building from theory to practice to expertise.
Theory guides and informs practice. Practice matures to expertise. Developing solutions to societal problems, from inception to implementation, is a transformative educational experience. Lehigh will provide every student, whether graduate or undergraduate, with opportunities for broad and deep experiential learning and entrepreneurship training so they can apply the knowledge and theoretical perspectives that they have learned and developed. We will ensure the intellectual and social development of students while activating their thoughtful participation in, and contribution to, society. Through this approach, Lehigh students will be best prepared for their first job and for jobs that don’t yet exist.
Build and strengthen external partnerships.
Lehigh will nurture trust and develop partnerships with other universities, organizations and companies to multiply our impact. Our existing and emerging strengths in focused areas of research and education provide opportunities for us to become a valued partner, allowing for innovative collaborations that will distinguish us in higher education. We will streamline our policies and processes and enhance our visibility so that we become a preferred partner for organizations that share key elements of our mission.
Become a user-focused university.
Lehigh will integrate operational excellence in every facet of our work, from academics to administration, fostering a culture where every individual is empowered to identify and remove barriers to improving our work. We will prioritize a positive and productive experience for all partners and community members. Every interaction. Every time. By appreciating and engaging with diverse perspectives, Lehigh will achieve the most user-centered experience to enable the most positive outcomes.