To get an expert assessment of how optimistic and satisfied you are, Cornell faculty and staff members can fill out an online questionnaire from the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania (UP). Participants will receive online, confidential profiles on their levels of happiness, optimism, satisfaction with life, balance between work and life, perseverance and "signature strengths," compared with other survey participants from across the country, according to age group, general occupation, gender and educational level.

The surveys are part of a research study that staff members in several units at Cornell have been involved in for two years through Cornell's Office of Human Resources, in conjunction with UP. Based on research by Martin Seligman, UP's Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology, the Cornell Well-being at Work Research Study seeks to answer the question, "Does more meaning at work, more absorption in work and more positive emotion at work create higher productivity and better physical health?"

Units participating in the study include the Cornell University Library, College of Human Ecology, Finance and Administration, Office of Human Resources, School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions, and Student and Academic Services.

The questionnaires are at http://cornell.authentichappiness.org. Register as "other" if you are not in a participating college or unit. For more information, contact Rehana Huq at (607) 254-6400 or rh24@cornell.edu.