University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Every fall, first-year students in the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln identify their strengths, participate in group activities and learn from guest speakers who explain how their strengths help them in their respective fields.

University of Iowa

Incoming University of Iowa students to the class of 2020 have taken the CliftonStrengths assessment as part of a new initiative called Be Better@Iowa. According to the school, the initiative "will position the UI as the university that creates leaders who leverage their strengths, leadership knowledge, and leadership skills to contribute to their communities now and in the future."

University of Colorado

"Now, every year, 6,000 new students will learn their strengths and how to use them productively to improve well-being and engagement. And 1,000 staff and faculty members in the region -- at CU-Boulder and other campuses -- are involved in learning about strengths."

Kansas State University

"In an effort to increase the retention, engagement, and overall well-being of its students, Kansas State University has partnered with Gallup to become a strengths-based campus."

University of Chicago

"The use of [StrengthsQuest] will allow us to begin meeting our goals of providing skill development to the graduate and undergraduate community by empowering our students to invest in their personal success through their engagement with the University of Chicago."

George Mason University Well-Being University Initiative

George Mason adopted a new strategic plan to become the first certified Well-Being University in the world.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

"The integration of StrengthsQuest within the curriculum at KVCC has given students the resources for strengths-based personal development, which they can incorporate into their education and future careers."

Towson University

"Towson University has collaborated with Gallup to provide TU students an opportunity to learn about their strengths and how they can enhance their personal and academic aspirations."

West Texas A&M

"'Our overall mission at WT is to help students be successful, not only as students, but beyond that when they enter the work force,' said Mike Knox, President for Student Affairs."

The George Washington University School of Business

"The school began using StrengthsQuest as part of its first-year experience program in 2006. Students meet once a week for 50 minutes and are taught by an undergraduate student mentor and a professional staff member."

Weber State University

"Initially, we tried to grow among the staff and with the faculty and human resources. But the [growth] really happened when the students started getting involved. They really fell in love with this philosophy -- heart and soul."

Integrating Strength-Based Education Into a First-Year Experience Curriculum

This article describes an initiative that integrated a strengths-base curriculum into a first-year experience program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

UNCG Researchers: Knowing Strengths Spurs Success

"'The spread of this program has happened organically because people are starting to recognize that it's positive and it works,' Taylor said. 'Our goal is to give students, faculty and staff a way to identify their strengths and productively apply them.'"

Capitalizing on Personal Strengths in College

Data indicate that college students who are the best of the best at using their strengths use sustained social supports and build on successful experiences that give them the confidence to apply their strengths in new situations.

How to Redeem Your StrengthsQuest® Access Code

Instructions for using an access code to complete the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment and unlock your results and other resources.

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All 34 CliftonStrengths™ Theme Descriptions

Definitions and videos describing all 34 of the CliftonStrengths themes.

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Getting the Most Out of Your CliftonStrengths™ Report

Use this worksheet to further your understanding of your assessment results.

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Picture of Excellence

Use this worksheet to understand CliftonStrengths through the lens of excellence.

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Building Strengths

Use this worksheet to understand how talents, skills and knowledge coalesce to create strengths.

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Your Role and Your Signature Themes

Use this worksheet to effectively fulfill the requirements of your role by doing what you naturally do best.

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Scavenger Hunt

Use this worksheet to further your understanding of CliftonStrengths that don't appear in your own Signature Themes.

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My Strengths and How I Use Them

Use this worksheet to consider how your Signature Themes empower you to succeed.

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Five Clues to Talent

Use this worksheet to consider how your natural interests and abilities can help you better understand your talents.

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CliftonStrengths™ Theme Quick Reference Card

Read the short definitions of each of the 34 CliftonStrengths themes.

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Gallup-Purdue Index 2015 Report

Examine the link between key college experiences and positive alumni outcomes, based on interviews with more than 30,000 graduates.

Gallup-Purdue Index 2014 Report

The inaugural report featuring groundbreaking research on the degree to which graduates have great jobs and lead great lives.

The Clifton StrengthsFinder^® and Student Development

A summary and critique of existing strengths-based educational research using the Clifton StrengthsFinder.

Technical Report on the Clifton StrengthsFinder^® With College Students

Report on the reliability, validity, and use of the Clifton StrengthsFinder instrument.

2015 Strengths Meta-Analysis

Based on a study of more than 1 million individuals and almost 50,000 business units, this report demonstrates the powerful connections between strengths development and business performance.

Clifton StrengthsFinder^® 2.0 Technical Report -- 2014 Update

A summary of reliability and validity evidence gathered to date, as well as the primary application of the Clifton StrengthsFinder as the evaluation that initiates a strengths-based development process in work and academic settings.

Clifton StrengthsFinder^® 2.0 Technical Report -- 2013 Update

The 2013 summary of reliability and validity evidence gathered to date, as well as the primary application of the Clifton StrengthsFinder as the evaluation that initiates a strengths-based development process in work and academic settings.

Clifton StrengthsFinder^® 2.0 Technical Report -- 2009 Update

The 2009 summary of reliability and validity evidence gathered to date, as well as the primary application of the Clifton StrengthsFinder as the evaluation that initiates a strengths-based development process in work and academic settings.

Strengths-Based Development in Practice

Explore decades of strengths research and theory, including the relationships between strengths-based development and employee engagement, hope, well-being and confidence.

StrengthsQuest^® Implementation Guide

Learn about current and future StrengthsQuest programs, the framework for strengths-based programs, as well as highlights of successful strengths initiatives and best practices on college campuses throughout the United States.

StrengthsQuest^® Guide Book

An introduction to strengths-based development and StrengthsQuest for higher education leaders.

Developing Students to Be Their Best

How leaders can create an environment that fosters their colleagues and students to also effectively discover, develop and apply their strengths.

Positive Psychology and Higher Education

For educators who grapple with enhancing the knowledge, talent and contributions of their students while engaging students from freshman year to graduation.

The Real Data Revolution in Higher Education

"There's a coming data revolution in higher education, but it's not the 'big data' revolution that many have been hyping. This revolution will be more about the right data than bigger data."

The Two Most Important Questions for Graduates

When it comes to advice for recent college graduates, Gallup research offers some very powerful and clear guidance.

Strengths-Based Employee Development: The Business Results

"For organizations seeking to improve performance on crucial business outcomes, strengths-based development is a proven solution. To boost their business, leaders need to start developing people based on what is right with them."

Employees Who Use Their Strengths Outperform Those Who Don't

This is why it's worth it -- even in the face of weakness-focused orthodox management -- to build a strengths-based culture.

Workforces Devoted to Weaknesses Are Dangerous

When you accept that nature gave you incredible talents and choose a career that allows you to use them -- and if you have a manager who lets you play to those talents -- you can achieve some amazing things.

Increase Student Recognition to Unlock Engagement

"To engage students, schools need to find creative ways to encourage great effort."

When Americans Use Their Strengths More, They Stress Less

"The more hours per day adults believe they use their strengths, the more likely they are to report having ample energy, feeling well-rested, being happy, smiling or laughing a lot, learning something interesting, and being treated with respect."

Half in U.S. Don't Use Their Strengths Throughout the Day

"Considering the value -- in terms of well-being and productivity -- that using one's strengths creates, if more Americans learn about their own strengths and put them to use, it could create a positive economic impact in the U.S. for businesses, communities, and individuals."

Seven Reasons to Lead With Strengths

"The success of the people you lead -- and your entire organization -- depends on the development of their strengths."

Making Strengths-Based Development Work

"In short, if employees perceive that their organization supports them and is committed to them, they are more likely to have feelings of obligation to the employer that enhance organizational performance."

How Strengths Boost Engagement

"Too often, engagement and strengths can be viewed as separate entities. However, the science shows that engagement and strengths are far more powerful when managed and supported in tandem."

How Employees' Strengths Make Your Company Stronger

"Investing in and focusing on employees' talents boosts employee and customer engagement, according to Gallup's research, leading to higher levels of performance, profitability, productivity, and greater earnings per share for businesses."

Drive Engagement by Focusing on Strengths

"A strengths-focused environment helps me think about becoming the best I can be based on the unique talents that I bring to my workplace," Larry said. "And that is a pretty engaging feeling."

What Makes a Great Leadership Team?

Individuals don't have to be well-rounded, but teams should be.