TCU receives the 2011 Clifton Compass Award for strengths-based campuses

Fort Worth, TX

9/9/2011

Texas Christian University has been recognized as the 2011 recipient of the Gallup/Clifton Strengths School — Clifton Compass Award, designed to honor institutions that best represent a strengths-based campus. The announcement of the award was made at the opening ceremonies of the annual Strengths in Education Conference attended by 60 institutions and 170 participants.

Mark Pogue, Gallup Vice President of the Education Practice and Executive Board Member of the Clifton Strengths School, formally presented the award on the TCU campus Sept. 8. According to the Clifton Strengths School, TCU was cited for its exemplary performance in four key areas of evaluation: strength-based programming and development for students, strength-based programming and development opportunities for staff and faculty, outreach and research.

StrengthsQuest is a development program that 11,000 TCU students have participated in. Since 2005, TCU has provided opportunities for strengths development for every student throughout his/her enrollment. StrengthsQuest is housed under the Department of Student Affairs, which integrates strengths training in transition programs, leadership development and student organizations, service and community involvement, residential life, wellness and career services. Additionally, StrengthsQuest has been adopted in courses offered through the College of Education, the Neeley School of Business, The AddRan College of Liberal Arts, the Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and the Schieffer School of Journalism.

TCU is also committed to the development of the strengths to all members of its community. On-going education is provided to faculty and staff through departmental consulting and training, division-wide professional development, Human Resources workshops, and yearly StrengthsQuest Educator Seminars. TCU’s community outreach and education includes work with neighboring K-12 school districts and universities, the City of Fort Worth, non-profit organizations, and annual national and regional conference presentations and other projects in our community that help develop TCU as a strengths-based campus.

Lastly, TCU is committed to exploring the efficacy of strengths-based programming. The TCU Leadership Center recently completed a three-part study on the Strengths Self-Efficacy Scale, strengths interventions, and the relationship of strengths self-efficacy and hope to leadership capacities. The results were recently published in the Journal of Leadership Education.

TCU is also one of three universities chosen to participate as pilot members of the Gallup Campus Wellbeing Consortium, an initiative that will reach more than 100,000 students over the next five years. Research deduced from tentative studies will help mold future programs provided by the Clifton Strengths School.


About Clifton Strengths School
The Clifton Strengths School aims to build upon the 50 years of research by Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D., the primary developer of the Clifton StrengthsFinder and the Clifton Youth StrengthsExplorer. Their educational programs help students and educators make the most of their strengths. The Clifton Strengths School helps students know, understand, and use their strengths. Their goal is to help students, along with their parents and teachers, find the students unique path to success — in school, work, and life.

Gallup has studied human nature and behavior for more than 70 years. Gallup's reputation for delivering relevant, timely, and visionary research on what people around the world think and feel is the cornerstone of the organization. Gallup employs many of the world's leading scientists in management, economics, psychology, and sociology, and our consultants assist leaders in identifying and monitoring behavioral economic indicators worldwide. Gallup consultants also help organizations boost organic growth by increasing customer engagement and maximizing employee productivity through measurement tools, coursework, and strategic advisory services. Gallup's 2,000 professionals deliver services at client organizations, through the Web, at Gallup University's campuses, and in 40 offices around the world.