South Mountain College
What college is supposed to be about

We’re looking for students interested in joining South Mountain College, a new campus community dedicated to the exploration of ideas across disciplines. 

What is South Mountain College?

South Mountain College (SMC) is a residential academic program in the College of Arts and Sciences.  It is designed to bring together a community of students and faculty dedicated to the exploration of intellectually exciting and practically significant topics of investigation.  South Mountain students are challenged to assume responsibility for their educations and make connections across disciplinary barriers.  Assisted by core faculty—along with faculty and staff 'friends' of the program—South Mountain students draw from the curricular resources and intellectual expertise of the University as a whole.

SMC consists of a physical place (a dedicated residence), a curriculum (a unique set of academic activities), and an intellectual community.  Its guiding philosophy is that the problems and conundrums which confront us as individuals and as citizens are so thoroughly interconnected that the only hope of disentangling them is through creative, critical and comparative thinking across the full range of academic disciplines, and beyond.

South Mountain College has several distinctive program elements. These include a curriculum with courses, life in the South Mountain residence, special events, and participation in an intellectual community comprising students, faculty, and staff.

How does SMC relate to the rest of the Lehigh Community? 
 
South Mountain College is a program in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and is currently approved for students from that college (students from other colleges will have to take the initiative of contacting their adviser to see if participation in SMC can be meshed with their college's requirements.)  SMC taps into the resources of CAS and the university, both to help its members do their work, and to pursue the full breadth of their academic careers, including nearly the full range of BS and BA majors and room for free electives.  Beyond the faculty and staff who will work directly with SMC students at any one time as mentors, instructors, and advisers, we are building a broader group we call "Friends of SMC" who will be available for student consultation, advice, and social interaction.  In general we are hoping for low walls and fluid interaction with other programs at Lehigh.  All SMC activities will be open to the entire campus community.
 
What South Mountain College is NOT
 
South Mountain College is not for an elite clique, it’s not an honors program, and it’s not aimed at or away from any one group.  It does not have any social, political, or academic agenda.  It’s simply a community of people interested in student-driven, immersive learning and the open exploration of ideas.  SMC is open to anyone who wants to play and is willing to take the risk of entering new territory.  It may not be for everyone: if you prefer outlines, schedules, lists, black-and-white dichotomies, attending seminars but not participating, then honestly, you may be happier where you are.