Empower yourself to create innovative solutions for societal challenges.
Our entrepreneurial action programs cultivate leaders who transform challenges into opportunities for economic and social development.
For optimal results, we recommend participating in at least 4, but please feel free to take as many as you like.
Action for Societal Impact
Intermediate Level
Research Translation AcceLUrator (RTA) Series of Courses
Description: Series of 1-credit courses for doctoral students that cover relevant topics about research translation (converting research into commercial success).
When: Calendar Year
Credits: 1
Provider: Research Translation AcceLUrator
Learn More: https://researchtranslationaccelurator.lehigh.edu/about-rta-courses
Deep Dive Level
Mountaintop Summer Immersive
Description: Interdisciplinary summer projects where faculty, students, and partners co-create transformative innovations and new questions. Note for 2025: You must be a 2026 Impact Fellow to apply and participate in the program.
Provider: Creative Inquiry
Application: Apply (early-mid March)
Audience: Undergraduate & Graduate students
When: Summer term (8 weeks)
Funding: Mostly funded — Fellows receive stipends ($5K UG / $6K Grad)
Location: 472 Vine Street Building
Learn More: Mountaintop Summer Experience Details
Global Village
Description: Engage in real work in our communities on complex, multisystem challenges with global relevance. By partnering with local governments, corporations, academic institutions and community members, Global Village program participants will learn how to address challenges as well as what is required of leaders to get things done when multiple views, conflict or uncertainty exist.
When: Summer
Credits: Industry Skills & Competitive Advantage (fee based w/ discount for Lehigh students)
Provider: Iacocca Institute
Learn More: https://global.lehigh.edu/iacocca-institute/global-village
Campus Social Impact Fellowship (CINQ 387, 388, 389)
Description: A cohort of students addressing UN Sustainable Development Goal challenges on Lehigh’s campus through hands-on social innovation projects.
Provider: Creative Inquiry
Application: Apply mid-October to early November
Audience: Undergraduate & Graduate students
When: Fall & Spring Semesters
Kind: Fellowship Program
Credits: 6 (3 in Spring semester, 3 in Fall semester)
Location: Asa Packer Campus
Learn More: Impact Fellowships Overview
Global Social Impact Fellowship (CINQ 387, 388, 389)
Description: A cohort of students working on long-term projects tackling sustainable development challenges in five different countries - Sierra Leone, Kazakhstan, the Philippines, India, and Brazil - with local partners.
Provider: Creative Inquiry
Application: Apply mid-October to early November
Audience: Undergraduate & Graduate students
When: Fall, Spring & Summer Semesters + Fieldwork
Kind: Fellowship Program
Credits: 6 (3 in Spring semester, 3 in Fall semester)
Location: Global Field Sites
Learn More: Global Social Impact Fellowship Details
Lehigh Valley Social Impact Fellowship (CINQ 387, 388, 389)
Description: Students collaborate with local partners to address social and economic challenges in Bethlehem and across the Lehigh Valley, creating tangible community impact.
Provider: Creative Inquiry
Application: Apply mid-October to early November
Audience: Undergraduate & Graduate students
When: Fall & Spring Semesters
Kind: Fellowship Program
Credits: 6 (3 in Spring semester, 3 in Fall semester)
Location: Lehigh Valley / Bethlehem Community
Learn More: Lehigh Valley Social Impact Fellowship
Silicon Valley Social Impact Fellowship (CINQ 387, 388, 389)
Description: A transdisciplinary cohort tackling social and economic issues in the San Francisco Bay Area, integrating innovation and impact in tech ecosystems.
Provider: Creative Inquiry
Application: Apply mid-October to early November
Audience: Undergraduate & Graduate students
When: Fall, Spring & Summer Semesters + Fieldwork
Kind: Fellowship Program
Credits: 6 (3 in Spring semester, 3 in Fall semester)
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Learn More: Silicon Valley Social Impact Fellowship
NextGen Impact Fellowship (CINQ 387, 388, 389)
Description: NextGen Pathways to Transformative Impact Fellowship is a pioneering faculty-student partnership that propels ambitious, interdisciplinary creative inquiry and exploratory research projects that push the boundaries of knowledge and drive systemic change. Fellows embark on high-risk, high-reward intellectual journeys, advancing multi-year projects throughout the Spring and Fall semesters, earning six academic credits.
Provider: Creative Inquiry
Application: Apply mid-October to early November
Audience: Undergraduate & Graduate students
When: Fall, Spring & Summer Semesters + Fieldwork
Kind: Fellowship Program
Credits: 6 (3 in Spring semester, 3 in Fall semester)
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Learn More: Asa Packer Campus