Finding the Good Life: How Positive Psychology Can Help College Students to Discover and Utilize their Personal Strengths and Virtues

February 5-7, 2009

Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University

For a copy of the 2009 Institute Brochure, please click the link below:

2009 Institute on College Student Values Brochure

The 2009 Institute on College Student Values will examine what recent research on positive psychology has to tell us about encouraging student development through identifying and assessing positive human strengths and abilities.  Featured speakers will examine the relevance of positive psychology for character development in college and how institutions can be more active in encouraging personal happiness and success in students through the development of individual strengths and virtues. Concurrent Sessions and Roundtable Discussions will feature practitioners and scholars presenting relevant programs and best practices on how to focus on strengths development and positive student experiences. 

Major topics of discussion can include:

How does Positive Psychology inform our actions when assisting students?

What can colleges and universities do to focus on strengths rather than weaknesses?

What practices exist that focus on strength development rather than "fixing weaknesses"?

How can colleges focus on developing happy and joyous students?

What is the "good life", and how do we encourage students to seek it?

The 2009 Institute will feature a mix of concurrent sessions, keynote lectures, roundtable discussions, and informal activities all designed to complement each other. We intend to begin activities with a pre-conference workshop on the morning of February 5, and end with a luncheon on Saturday, February 7. A more detailed schedule will be released later, but please check this website frequently for more information.