This fall, a cohort of the incoming class of 2029 will be able to “Explore Lehigh” through an innovative new first-semester program designed to give students a dynamic and interdisciplinary start to their college careers.
The inaugural cohort of 30 students will spend one semester taking courses that are part of the typical first-semester experience, such as math and writing, alongside an integrative course that is designed to introduce them to diverse fields across the four undergraduate colleges (College of Arts & Sciences, College of Health, College of Business and the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Sciences). Students participating in Explore Lehigh will receive personalized, high-touch advising paired with a course designed to show how different disciplines can collaborate to confront real-world challenges.
“After two years of development and ideation, we are excited to welcome students to Explore Lehigh this fall,” said Terry-Ann Jones, deputy provost for Undergraduate Affairs and lead for the Redefine a Deeply Interdisciplinary Education key initiative for Lehigh’s Strategy. “This program is a proactive step in addressing the evolving needs of students.”
Jones explained that a significant, albeit small number of students, currently arrive at Lehigh uncertain about their educational path. In an effort to explore different colleges and programs within the university, these students can sometimes delay their graduation. This program offers students an alternative to the time-intensive and often costly process of changing colleges during their undergraduate tenure.
“Rather than waiting for these challenges to grow, this initiative aims to offer students a structured program that supports their exploration of Lehigh’s undergraduate colleges and helps them make thoughtful, timely decisions about their academic direction,” said Jones.
Students partaking in the program will attend a summer introduction; participate in PreLUsion; be matched with an advisor, faculty mentor and peer mentor; complete the interdisciplinary fall semester curriculum; reconvene with a spring semester reunion, and have an annual check-in.
This program aims to provide specialized guidance and support helping students identify their interests and goals while selecting the college that best aligns with their aspirations.
“We can’t expect every first-year student to know what path they will take,” said Dan Warner, vice provost for Admissions and Financial Aid. “Explore Lehigh is a great opportunity for students to explore the vast array of intellectual paths, many of which were unavailable to them in high school. Not only does this program allow students to evaluate a couple of programs, but they are exposed to a 360-degree view of academic life at Lehigh.”
For more information about Explore Lehigh, visit www2.lehigh.edu/admissions/explore-lehigh.
Story by Jessica Jackson.
