The Strengths Assessment Through the OWU Connection

Ohio Wesleyan University is continuing its push to become a fully strengths-based campus, encouraging all students, faculty, and staff to complete the OWU Strengths Assessment through Career Connection.

The assessment, which is free and available to the entire campus community, is designed to help individuals identify their top talents and better understand how those strengths can shape academic work, professional development, and campus involvement.

According to Career Connection staff, “the broader goal is to create a shared language around strengths that can support collaboration, build confidence, and improve communication across campus.” 

While the initiative is supported by university leadership, students say the assessment offers practical value for anyone looking to better understand how they work and what motivates them.

Many students who have taken the assessment say it provides a clearer sense of direction—whether in choosing classes, approaching group projects, or preparing for internships and career conversations. The tool also breaks down personal strengths in a way that helps make daily habits and decision-making feel more intentional.

Supporters of the program say normalizing strengths language across campus could also help teams function more effectively, particularly in student organizations, athletics, and academic groups. Faculty and staff participation is a key part of that effort, with the university aiming to integrate strengths awareness into advising, leadership development, and campus programming.

For students, the benefits are often immediate: a better understanding of how they naturally problem-solve, communicate, and lead. Career Connection staff emphasize that the assessment isn't about labeling people, but about giving them tools to recognize what they already do well.

As OWU continues to highlight leadership, service, and lifelong learning as core parts of its mission, the strengths initiative is intended to support those values by helping community members approach their work with more confidence and purpose.

Students, faculty, and staff can access the assessment through Career Connection and are encouraged to complete it at any point during the academic year. The assessment can be found on the OWU Connection website under Career Connection resources, making it easily accessible to anyone interested!