| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.64 |
| Liaison | Yolanda Cieters |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Seattle University
PA-8: Committee on Investor Responsibility
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Phillip
Thompson Director CEJS |
Does the institution have a formally established and active committee on investor responsibility (CIR) that makes recommendations to fund decision-makers on socially and environmentally responsible investment opportunities across asset classes?:
The charter or mission statement of the CIR or other body which reflects social and environmental concerns or a brief description of how the CIR is tasked to address social and environmental concerns:
In 2015, the University created the Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Task Force as a way to explore options in which Seattle University could further its commitment to social responsibility in making investments consistent with its Investment Policy Statement. One of the recommendations adopted by the Board of Trustees was to establish a working group to engage with interested students, faculty and staff on relevant matters of social responsibility in investing and advise the Investment Committee on an ongoing basis. This permanent Socially Responsible Investments (SRI) Working Group of the Investment Committee (Committee) was created in Spring 2017.
Purpose of the Working Group: This permanent Working Group of the Investment Committee (Committee) will serve as the liaison between the campus community and the Committee. It will provide information and recommendations to the Committee on socially responsible investment issues that can be taken into account when making decisions on investments, policies and practices for Seattle University
Charge of the Working Group: The Working Group shall have no power or authority, other than to make recommendations to the Investment Committee. The Working Group will hear, review and make recommendations to the Committee on concerns of the campus community relating to socially responsible investments pertaining to the Endowment Fund. The Committee will look to the Working Group to provide input as to how the University can invest its resources in a way which is consistent with guidelines set forth in the Investment Policy Statement.
The Investment Policy Statement of the Investment Committee states: Consistent with the University’s Jesuit Catholic values, the [Investment] Committee will consider the University’s commitment to ethics and social responsibility in making investment decisions. While the Committee remains committed to its fiduciary duty to the University’s long-term financial growth and sustainability, it also recognizes the value of non-traditional investment opportunities in providing a reasonable return as well as furthering the University’s mission and values.
Does the CIR include staff representation?:
Does the CIR include faculty representation?:
Does the CIR include student representation?:
Members of the CIR, including affiliations and role (e.g. student, faculty, staff, alumni):
--Andrew O'Boyle (Staff - Administration): Assistant Vice President, Finance and Investments
--Eric Elliott (Staff): Recycling Coordinator and Compost Technician
--Scott McClellan (Staff - Administration): Vice President, Marketing Communications
--Valentina Zamora: Faculty Representative. Associate Professor, Accounting, Albers School of Business and Economics
--Wesley Lauer : Faculty Representative. Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Director of Environmental Science
--Grimm SJ, Robert: Jesuit Counselor
--McCrite, Emily: Undergraduate Student
--Saxena, Surbhi: Graduate Student
--Jill Naas-Blackburn, ’95, alumni representative–program management, Wells Fargo
--Jason Malinowski: Seattle University Investment Committee member
--Joe Gaffney: Seattle University Board of Trustee member
Examples of CIR actions during the previous three years:
The permanent Socially Responsible Investment Working Group was established in Spring 2017 and has met quarterly to discuss strategies for incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance factors into the University’s financial investments. The Working Group followed recommendations from the previous Socially Responsible Investments Task Force to: (1) schedule training sessions for staff and faculty to re-invest retirement funds into available socially responsible management funds; (2) send members to a PRI conference; and (3) draft recommendations in support of divesting the University’s endowment from fossil fuels.
As reflected in SU's audited financial statements, which are public documents, the university has no direct investments in any publicly traded companies and thus no direct investments in any publicly traded fossil fuel companies.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.