Given the shared interest between higher education and positivepsychology in developing healthy and productive human beings, thisissue explores how this new subdiscipline of psychology cancontribute to the mission of higher education. It presents avariety of strategies for bolstering student learning anddevelopment.The authors also draw from appreciative inquiry, which, likepositive psychology, is based on studying strengths, but focuses onorganizational rather than individual performance. During a time ofdaunting challenges, positive psychology and appreciative inquirycan help to leverage higher education's many assets tooptimize the potential of students, faculty, and staff.This is the 143rd volume of this Jossey-Bass highereducation quarterly series. An indispensable resource for vicepresidents of student affairs, deans of students, studentcounselors, and other student services professionals, NewDirections for Student Services offers guidelines andprograms for aiding students in their total development: emotional,social, physical, and intellectual.

EDITORS' NOTES 1Peter C. Mather, Eileen Hulme1. Appreciative Education 5Jennifer L. Bloom, Bryant L. Hutson, Ye He, Erin KonkleAppreciative education is presented as a framework for leadinghigher education institutions, delivering truly student-centeredservices, and guiding higher education professionals'interactions with students.2. Cultivating Change Using Appreciative Inquiry 19Matthew Fifolt, Lori LanderThe purpose of this chapter is to describe the utility and scopeof appreciative inquiry and outline the benefits of thisstrengths-based approach to engage in meaningfulself-assessment.3. Promoting Positive Leadership 31Peter C. Mather, Michael HessDrawing from positive organizational scholarship, the authorsdescribe strategies for moving from an ineffective focus onproblems to leveraging organizational strengths for productivechange4. Thriving in College 41Laurie A. SchreinerThis chapter describes the phenomenon of thriving as a deepengagement in learning experiences. The author also identifi esmultiple pathways to the acquisition of thriving andcharacteristics of communities that support thriving students.5. Fostering Student Engagement by Cultivating Curiosity53Eileen Hulme, Daniel T. Green, Kimberly S. LaddThis chapter describes the results of a study that provides a richunderstanding of the role of curiosity in facilitating academic andpersonal success in high-achieving college students.6. Appreciative Inquiry in Teaching and Learning 65Laura M. Harrison, Shah HasanThis chapter challenges the contemporary narrative that suggestshigher education and student learning are in decline. Prescriptionsfor strengthening pedagogical processes by adapting principles fromappreciative inquiry are also discussed.7. Promoting Social Justice Through Appreciative CommunityService 77Peter C. Mather, Erin KonkleSocial justice and community service have strong traditions inhigher education. In this chapter, the authors describe ways inwhich positive psychology and appreciative inquiry inform thepursuit of social justice through community service activities.8. Resources and Readings in Positive Psychology 89Peter C. Mather, Eileen HulmeThis chapter presents a variety of resources for highereducation professionals interested in applying appreciativeeducation principles to their work.INDEX 9