Launch Initiatives
On our journey forward, we will leave space for Future Makers to adjust, and be nimble in order to achieve our strategic goals.
- Home /
- Initiatives /
- Launch Initiatives
When Inspiring the Future Makers launched in 2023, there were ten initiatives divided into “key” and “foundational” categories. Foundational initiatives identified projects that would ensure that our infrastructure and values were in place as we moved toward our goals. Key initiatives defined specific projects and actions that supported our ability to achieve these goals and determine where we would make future investments.
As we continue to implement our strategy, our collective progress and momentum and a natural evolution have led to this structure and the initiatives that compose it to adapt and change over time. Below you can find the original ten launch initiatives divided into the “key” and “foundational” categories.
To explore what initiatives are actively driving Inspiring the Future Makers, please visit the Current Initiatives page.
Key Initiatives
Redefine a deeply interdisciplinary education.
All Lehigh students will be able to participate in boldly interdisciplinary programs and access the educational opportunities available across the university. They will embrace their intellectual curiosity, explore diverse academic programs, and develop both the timely and timeless skills needed for long-term professional and personal success. We will expand inter-college programs for undergraduates. We will transform Ph.D. education to be student-centered and provide specific training relevant to the full range of Ph.D. career pathways.
Invest in strategic interdisciplinary research.
Critical problems require a holistic approach to problem solving. Lehigh will make key investments in faculty hires, facilities renovation and construction, and support for the development of large grant proposals. We will build an interdisciplinary structure that supports high-paced, high-reward research. We aim to double our research output within 10 years. Our research areas of focus are:
- Improving health through assessments and interventions that occur outside of traditional health care settings.
- Innovation for sustainable infrastructure and communities.
- Interdisciplinary research and creative work to understand conflict and change.
Lead in educational innovation.
Lehigh will apply learning science and “Universal Design for Inquiry” (UDI) to innovate the classroom experience, maximize learning and personalize education for each student. To institutionalize innovation in academic programs, we will develop an incubator where faculty and staff can focus on creation of the most innovative new programs and approaches to student learning and thriving, in an environment where they are supported and inspired.
Transform Mountaintop campus.
Lehigh will fully activate the 740-acre Mountaintop campus and transform it into a vital destination and resource for the Lehigh community and beyond. We will use Mountaintop as a location for big and messy work. We will explore the creation of a graduate student and postdoc village, spaces for corporate partnerships, inviting outdoor areas, retail and community event space.
Enhance the shared Bethlehem experience.
Lehigh will expand our partnerships and community engagements throughout Bethlehem’s South Side and the Asa Packer campus, enriching the community and expanding our impact. We will create opportunities for the community to come together and have shared experiences on and off our campus.
Enhancing graduate and lifelong learning.
Lehigh will expand our graduate and professional offerings to be part of the lifelong learning experience. Lehigh will provide learning opportunities for alumni and for others who are seeking to gain new skills and credentials, and advance in their profession and life.
Foundational Initiatives
A Lehigh for everyone.
Lehigh will be a place where everyone feels valued. The Lehigh experience must be welcoming, engaging and personal. For newcomers, the onboarding, orientation and mentoring programs will be welcoming and informative. We will review policies for equity and inclusiveness and provide resources for physical and mental wellness. We will continue to activate Lehigh’s 2021-2026 Diversity, Inclusion & Equity plan, further promoting and developing a community committed to cultural diversity as an essential part of the learning environment.
An expanded and strengthened research environment.
We will expand and enhance research facilities, improve our ability to partner with key external stakeholders, increase support for faculty seeking external funding for their work, and invest in the support and development of graduate students, postdocs and research staff.
An organization of the future.
We will develop standards of service for key elements of our operations and educate members of our community to uphold these expectations. We will make processes and systems more efficient so that people at Lehigh can spend more time doing the things that are most important to their and the university’s success. We will use innovation and technology to enhance experiences, not replace personal interaction. We will experiment with new models to develop services that are responsive to the changing environment.
Decision-making informed by qualitative and quantitative data and analysis.
We will consistently use data to support and facilitate decision making. We will more broadly share data and train Lehigh staff and faculty to use our data to measure and improve the way that we work. Our standards will include transparency and open communication, and we will create a continuous feedback loop to maintain accountability.