At an hour-long information session Tuesday to officially launch the implementation phase of Lehigh’s new strategic plan, President Joseph J. Helble ’82 called on members of the Lehigh community to continue to fully engage in the process that he says could prove transformational for the university.
“There is a lot of really important and exciting work ahead,” Helble told those gathered in Whitaker Lab and on Zoom. “This is about enabling the maximum achievement of the potential of our students in our community, maximizing the impact of our research, maximizing our student's potential for impact in the world.”
The information session provided additional details about the implementation of Lehigh’s strategic plan, Inspiring the Future Makers, announced in early June. The 10-year plan outlines a bold vision for the university that is centered around breaking boundaries to address societal challenges, innovating in academics and research, and cultivating collaborations and partnerships to build community and amplify Lehigh’s global, national and regional impact.
“This is the time when choices will be made,” said Provost Nathan Urban, “and we want to make sure that there's some understanding across the campus of what this process is going to be like.”
Although leads have been identified for 10 initiatives, he said, “There is going to be a need for a lot of engagement. There are many, many decisions that will need to be made, which will be shaped by the fact that we have a plan, by the fact that we have a set of goals that we've articulated. So it is going to continue to be a campus-wide, team effort."