Two female students looking at a notebook together

Student Support and Transition to College

Lehigh University students are bright, inquisitive, accomplished, well­-rounded, driven and goal-oriented, but the university experience can present an entirely new set of challenges and expectations, even for the highest-achieving students. We provide numerous student support services in your transition to college, helping each student succeed academically and develop as individuals. As a student, your personal evolution begins as soon as you arrive on campus.

Academic Support

Lehigh is committed to helping students reach their full academic potential. Those wanting to improve individual performance in the classroom, as well as those finding issues inhibiting their academic performance, are encouraged to meet with a member of the student support staff. Staff members work with students to assist their development both inside and outside the classroom, assessing the situation and creating a plan for improvement. Learn more about Academic Life & Student Transitions >

We provide tutoring services in many first- and second-year courses and offer study skills assistance free of charge to Lehigh students. Students are able to enhance their study skills through individual appointments or workshops

We offer both online and in-person assistance for students who want to develop their writing abilities, enhance research techniques and improve math proficiency. Our free services include one-on-one conferences with trained writing consultants to help students throughout the writing process and give written feedback for draft submissions. The Center’s goal is to provide extensive resources used to build the necessary academic skills and work habits.

Students who are substantially limited by a diagnosed disability are provided with as much independence as possible but supported so they have the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential. One program our office offers is the Peer Mentor Program, which matches returning students with diagnosed disabilities and proven academic success with first-year students to aid in the transition from high school to college.

TRAC Fellows, undergraduate peer writing tutors, provide written feedback on student drafts, hold individual and small-group draft conferences and act as resources for students conducting research and using instructional technologies.

The Residential Studying & Tutoring (RST) program was developed jointly by the Center for Academic Success and the Office of Residence Life to provide students with the opportunity to connect with other residents, study with peers and seek the help of a knowledgeable tutor. The program helps promote effective study habits while bringing academic support inside residence halls.

In addition to identifying resources and support systems available at Lehigh, academic advisors assist in making academic selections, identifying program selections, working out an academic pace and developing career planning strategies.

Every undergraduate student in the College of Business and Economics (CBE), College of Arts and Sciences and P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science is assigned a faculty advisor upon matriculation. That advisor typically changes when a major or program is selected.

The Office of Fellowship Advising helps Lehigh students and recent graduates apply for nationally competitive fellowships and scholarships. Our office supports students and recent graduates through all phases of the application process through one-on-one appointments, informational sessions and workshops.

Student Transitions

The Office of the First-Year Experience (OFYE) supports students and provides resources to make your transition to college life at Lehigh a successful one. Lehigh University’s first-year experience, evoLUtion, includes an orientation program, and NavigateLU, which is required for all new first-year students. Transfer students attend a separate orientation program.

Students in Lehigh T-Shirts

Orientation is your chance to meet your new classmates and the student Orientation Leaders while learning about Lehigh’s academic and social expectations.

Learn about Orientation
Students walking on a sidewalk

preLUsion, a pre-orientation experience, provides first-year students with an opportunity to explore a topic of their choice and engage with students and staff members who share a similar interest.

Learn about preLUsion
Parents taking a photo of students

Family plays an important role in each student’s transition process. We are excited to have a healthy level of involvement from family members as we seek to provide support for students and their all-around development.

View information for families
Hands writing in a Blueprint notebook

At Lehigh, you can create the experience you’ve always wanted and achieve the success you’ve always imagined. bLUeprint is a common experience that is big enough for everyone, yet personal to each student’s unique experience.

Learn about bLUeprint
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The 5x10 is a programming series open to all Lehigh students, with a specific focus on first-year students and their connection to Lehigh.

View 5x10 Programs
Students walking on campus

NavigateLU is a 10-week program that will aid in setting goals, developing an action plan and taking the first steps along your pathway to success. Building purposeful connections—with people, and to resources—will enhance your Lehigh experience.

Learn about NavigateLU
Students sitting in a boat on a beach

Camp Hawk, a two-day retreat, will engage first-year students in classic camp games and meaningful conversations in order to build connections and explore what their Lehigh experience is, and what it can be. 

Learn about Camp Hawk
Two students talking

Designed to engage the entire Lehigh community in discussions around a theme of contemporary interest and concern, the Summer Reading Program is one of the only shared intellectual experiences for the incoming first-year class.

View the Summer Reading Program