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Investments

by Mog,Justin M — last modified Oct 27, 2011 02:52 PM

Ensuring our funds are managed with a triple-bottom-line perspective that takes into consideration the economic, social and environmental impacts of our investments.

Green Scene: Sustainable Investing at UofL

In November 2010, Provost Willihnganz charged a new university-wide Committee on Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) with making recommendations to the President and Provost on financially, socially and environmentally responsible investment opportunities across asset classes and other related recommendations as appropriate, including shareholder advocacy and proxy voting.

We estimate UofL's total mission-related investments at 1.85% of the University's total endowment as of April 2010. Most of these are community economic development funds, but also included are climate change equities. Funds include: Kentucky Seed Fund, Chrysalis II & III, Triathlon, Capital South, and Wellington DIH.

The Committee has multi-stakeholder representation and provides a structure for fostering dialogue on investment opportunities, and helping the UofL Foundation make responsible investments that ensure financial health for UofL while promoting sustainability in the wider world. The Committee seeks investment opportunities that compliment the University’s mission, its resource requirements, and its commitment to sustainability.

Estimated value of holdings in sustainability investment funds, as of April 2010: $2,134,871
Estimated value of holdings in community development financial institutions, as of April 2010: $10,721,763

UofL’s 2020 Plan measures our progress in sustainability based upon the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The STARS framework stresses the influence of a university’s investment policies and strategies on social and environmental well-being and the importance of establishing an engaged SRI committee, making positive sustainability investments, and performing shareholder advocacy for greater social and environmental responsibility.

We are also aided in this effort and exchange ideas and information with other schools through the Responsible Endowments Coalition.

UofL captures a snapshot of its investment portfolio and makes it available to the public online. This snapshot is updated quarterly and can be found here.

Socially-Responsible Retirement Funds

UofL offers employees socially responsible investment options for employee retirement plans. These options are designed to give you investment income for a secure retirement while putting money behind companies you can feel good about. Options include:

  1. CREF Social Choice Account favoring companies that are: strong stewards of the environment, devoted to serving local communities, committed to higher labor standards, and managed ethically. Details here.
  2. Fidelity Select Environment and Alternative Energy Portfolio. Details here.

More information about UofL's employee benefits and our human resources policies are available here.

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