Investment & Finance
Introduction
Collectively, colleges and universities invest hundreds of billions of dollars. Like other decisions that institutions make, these investments have impacts that are both local and global in scope. Institutions with transparent and democratic investment processes promote accountability and engagement by the campus and community. By using the tools of sustainable investing, institutions can improve the long-term health of their endowments, encourage better corporate behavior, support innovation in sustainable products and services, support sustainability in their community, and help build a more just and sustainable financial system.
Featured Resources
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
Establishing a Sustainability Grant Fund to Promote Sustainability Related Research for Students and Faculty
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) established the Sustainability Grant Fund (SGF) to promote and encourage sustainability-related research at TRU and within the broader community. The SGF provides up to $100,000 for …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Establishing a Student Green Fund at Your University
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a student-led effort recently succeeded with the establishment of a student green fund. The green fund currently provides approximately $46,000 per year to be awarded …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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A Unique Partnership With Our Utility Company
- University of San Diego (CA)
In 2009, the University of San Diego (USD) applied to become part of the Local Governments Partnerships in San Diego through San Diego Gas and Electric. The request was approved …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Furman University's Energy Efficiency Eco-philanthropy Project
- Furman University (SC)
During the 2015 - 2016 academic year, The Environmental Community of Students, a first year engaged living program at Furman University, received an $80,000 donation from a local donor to …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Novel cost-neutral programs that advance your campus waste reduction goals
- GreeniPhi (VA)
As budgets are slashed on campuses, realizing ambitious sustainability goals requires novel thinking in order to create self-financed and cost-neutral projects. Experiential fundraisers may not seem to be the clearest …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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UC Berkeley's The Green Initiative Fund: Strategies and lessons learned from renewing a green fund
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Campus green funds have become symbols of empowerment for the student body. By providing funding towards sustainability projects and initiatives, green funds promote innovation, student leadership, and help bridge the …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Advancing Sustainability - Green Grants Program
- New York University (NY)
Since 2007 New York University's Green Grants program has awarded funding to students, faculty and staff with ideas or projects that advance sustainability. Improving the university's environmental performance, fostering environmental …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Campus-Scale Water Reuse Solutions to Enhance Water Sustainability in Higher Ed
- NextEra Distributed Water, Inc. (VA)
Water reclamation and reuse is vital for bulk-water consumers, like college campuses, to meet water supply challenges. Campus-scale reclaimed water projects, like the WaterHub® at Emory University, are becoming increasingly …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Business Sustainability 2.0: Moving from Enterprise Integration to Market Transformation and the Necessary Changes in the Business System
- University of Michigan (MI)
Enterprise Integration has been with us since the mid 1990s. It involves integrating sustainability into existing business logics (such as operational efficiency, cost of capital, consumer demand, etc.) and the …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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A Case Example for B-Schools: Energy and Economic Opportunity in Modernizing the Grid
- Skidmore College (NY)
Changing regulatory environments are creating economic (and business higher ed) opportunity. The current re-envisioning the energy (REV) proceeding in New York before the public service commission represents a regulatory proceeding …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Framework for Implementing Change
- Green Whys Consulting (TX)
Business schools seeking to integrate sustainability into business education can benefit from the same change management framework leveraged in corporate transformations. 'Change management' is to business education change what LEED …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Colloquium on Sustainability in Business Higher Education Discussion
- Appalachian State University (NC)
We are agents of change, and realize that sustainability is the future of business and business education. Higher education institutions are in the initial phases of examining this question, with …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Economics of Sustainability: Using Microeconomic Principles to Teach Sustainability
- Aquinas College (MI)
As a means to support a sustainable business program at Aquinas College, principles of microeconomics courses take on a unique sustainability focus. Here the concepts of consumption and production are …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Utilizing Carbon Offsets To Fulfil the Second Nature Climate Leadership Commitments
- Ball State University (IN)
- Colgate University (NY)
- Oberlin College (OH)
- Second Nature (MA)
This session will give an overview of the new guidelines for utilizing carbon offsets as part of the Second Nature Climate Commitments and highlight a sampling of some of the …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Renewable Energy for Colleges: Onsite and Virtual Solar Solutions
- NRG Energy, Inc (NJ)
Procuring renewable energy is expanding beyond its obvious value as the environmentally responsible thing to do; now it's increasingly becoming an economically viable option, as well. Colleges and universities, in …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Funding Campus Sustainability with Student Green Fee Grants: Campus Collaborations are Greater than the Sum of their Parts
- Georgia Southern University (GA)
Georgia Southern University's Center for Sustainability is partly funded by a $10 student fee, proposed by students. The fees finance a grant program that has funded >$650,000 (37 grants) over …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Engaging Investment Managers on Proxy Voting & Other Forms of Shareholder Engagement
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentional Endowments Network's "Engaging Investment Managers on Proxy Voting & Other Forms of Shareholder Engagement" document outlines potential questions for investment managers on their proxy voting and other shareholder …
- Posted Nov. 17, 2016
- Publications
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The Business Case for ESG Briefing Paper
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentional Endowments Network's "Business Case for ESG Briefing Paper" was developed to help endowment stakeholders understand what Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing is, how ESG investing and analysis …
- Posted Nov. 17, 2016
- Publications
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White Paper: Investing in Clean Energy: Campuses and Endowments
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentional Endowments Network's new report titled “Investing in Clean Energy: Campuses and Endowments” was designed to encourage conversation about the financial and societal benefits of clean energy investments higher …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2016
- Publications
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Bringing Responsible Investment to Campus: A Handbook for Committees on Investor Responsibiity
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
This toolkit is intended to be a guide to the creation, organization, and operation of Committees on Investor Responsibility that function effectively. Many schools have adopted the model of the …
- Posted Oct. 31, 2016
- Publications
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Unity College Students at the People's Climate March
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
Unity College students participate in the People's Climate March. Unity College was the first to divest its endowment from fossil fuels.
- Posted Sept. 23, 2016
- Photographs
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Sustainability 2020
- Green Mountain College (VT)
Ten years ago, students in an honors seminar investigated ways to reduce Green Mountain College’s ecological footprint. The class identified the biggest source of carbon emissions–the college’s heating plant, which …
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
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Supporting Solar Energy through a Student-Financed Renewable Energy Initiative
- Appalachian State University (NC)
- Second Nature (MA)
- Midwest Renewable Energy Association (WI)
The "Solar University Network: Innovation in Solar Energy Finance & Development" case study series highlights higher education investment in solar energy projects. The purpose of these case studies is to …
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Publications
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Public College Foundation Investment in Solar
- Wake Technical Community College (NC)
- Second Nature (MA)
- Midwest Renewable Energy Association (WI)
The “Solar University Network: Innovation in Solar Energy Finance & Development” case study series highlights higher education investment in solar energy projects. The purpose of these case studies is to …
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Publications
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Third-Party, Supporter-Financed Campus Solar: An Approach and a Partnership that Works
- Luther College (IA)
- Second Nature (MA)
- Midwest Renewable Energy Association (WI)
The “Solar University Network: Innovation in Solar Energy Finance & Development” case study series highlights higher education investment in solar energy projects. The purpose of these case studies is to …
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Publications
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Pack Forest at UW
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
Pack Forest is a working forest and owned by the University of Washington. Located outside of Eatonville, Wash., the University of Washington’s Pack Forest began with the purchase of 334 …
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Photographs
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SUNY Polytechnic Institute Sustainability Path
- State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (NY)
Solar PV and small wind turbine demonstration project funded by SUNY Small Grant Sustainability Fund
- Posted Sept. 12, 2016
- Photographs
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Harnessing the Power of Solar
- University of California, Merced (CA)
The Science and Engineering Building 2 features solar panels on the outside to help power the building and provide shade during the hottest months.
- Posted Sept. 7, 2016
- Photographs
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Implementation Model: Tying Energy Costs to Building Occupants
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
UC Berkeley's Energy Management Initiative (EMI) targets building occupants through building surveys and energy dashboards, and allocates energy cost responsibility to individual campus operating units to achieve savings of $6.5 …
- Posted Aug. 8, 2016
- Tools
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Building Community Investment at New York University
- New York University (NY)
Anchor institutions – large non-profit organizations like colleges, universities, or hospitals that are tied to a place by infrastructure and mission – should be harnessed to positively affect the growth …
- Posted Aug. 1, 2016
- Publications
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Raising Student Voices: Student Action for University Community Investment
- American University (DC)
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
- Duke University (NC)
- Fordham University (NY)
- Loyola University New Orleans (LA)
- University of Chicago (IL)
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
- University of San Francisco (CA)
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)
- Wesleyan University (CT)
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
This report from The Democracy Collaborative and the Responsible Endowments Coalition seeks to connect struggling communities to local institutional wealth through engaging student activism. The report profiles three administration-led initiatives …
- Posted Aug. 1, 2016
- Publications
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Rationale of early adopters of fossil fuel divestment
- Lake Forest College (IL)
Purpose This research uses the social science perspectives of institutions, ecological modernization and social movements to analyze the rationale used by the early-adopting universities of fossil fuel divestment in the …
- Posted July 18, 2016
- Publications
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Sustainabiliy Impact Fund
- Northwestern University (IL)
This project is a student-led initiative to allow Northwestern alumni to donate to supporting sustainability initiatives on our campus. Titled the Sustainability Impact Fund, this initiative includes directed fundraising efforts …
- Posted June 11, 2016
- Case Studies
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Middlebury College's Innovative Land Conservation and Financing Project
- Middlebury College (VT)
In 1915, a visionary Vermont environmentalist bequeathed to Middlebury College a large tract of land, located 12 miles from the main campus, part of which became home to the College’s …
- Posted June 11, 2016
- Case Studies
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Utility-Scale Solar Farm for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is proud of its sustainability initiatives, and Facilities & Services (F&S) is honored to support the campus wide Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP). The …
- Posted June 10, 2016
- Case Studies
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Union College's Presidential Green Grants: Empowering our community to make a more sustainable world
- Union College - NY (NY)
Our greatest resource as an institution is the creativity and energy of our community. Union College’s Presidential Green Grant (PGG) program leverages this creativity and energy by supporting novel projects …
- Posted June 10, 2016
- Case Studies
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Institutional Framework for Student-Led Sustainability Initiatives
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
The Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) is a self-sustaining committee within the Association for Students of the University of Nebraska (ASUN), otherwise known as UNL’s Student Government. The framework of the …
- Posted June 10, 2016
- Case Studies
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The Virginia Tech Green RFP Program
- Virginia Tech (VA)
Student engagement is an important factor in advancing sustainability at Virginia Tech. The University created the “Request for Proposal for Sustainability Initiatives from Student Organizations Program (Green RFP Program)” to …
- Posted June 9, 2016
- Case Studies
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Lowell Canal Bridges TIGER Grant: Campus-Community Partnerships Leveraging Transformative Change
- University of Massachusetts Lowell (MA)
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) is a fast growing university nestled within our host community of the City of Lowell, Massachusetts. Lowell enjoys an authentic urban character structured …
- Posted June 9, 2016
- Case Studies
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Development of a Carbon Capital Methodology for use by the Higher Education Community
- Ball State University (IN)
Over a multiyear period, Ball State University collaborated in the development and piloted the implementation of a new methodology by which colleges and universities can qualify their carbon reduction credits …
- Posted June 6, 2016
- Case Studies
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The Green Action Fund at Kansas State University
- Kansas State University (KS)
The Green Action Fund (GAF) at Kansas State University was initiated in 2013 as a joint project of the Office of Sustainability and the Student Governing Association (SGA). The GAF …
- Posted June 6, 2016
- Case Studies
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Student Design Fund
- University of Tennessee at Knoxville (TN)
The Student Design/Research Project Fund is a new and innovative sustainability project from the University of Tennessee. It created a pool of money to where applicants can apply for funding …
- Posted June 6, 2016
- Case Studies
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Green revolving funds: A sustainable investment
- College of Saint Benedict (MN)
- University of Dayton (OH)
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
- Blessed Earth (KY)
- Saint John's University (MN)
There has recently been a groundswell of interest in sustainability in all its forms, and two organizations — Green Seminary Initiative and Seminary Stewardship Alliance — have emerged to provide …
- Posted May 2, 2016
- Publications
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LEED Certification of Campus Buildings - A Cost-Benefit Approach
This is the first comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) buildings certified within the higher education sector. 16 institutions of higher education (IHEs) were surveyed …
- Posted April 14, 2016
- Publications
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Commonfund Study of Responsible Investing: A Survey of Endowments and Their Affiliated Foundations
- Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (DC)
- National Association of College & University Business Officers (NACUBO) (DC)
Commonfund Institute, NACUBO and AGB survey builds upon the 2014 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments by delving in to responsible investing practices, policies and portfolio strategies. Topics covered include:
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Defining responsible …
- Posted April 8, 2016
- Publications
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Institutional Pathways to Fossil-Free Investing: Endowment Management in a Warming World
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
This report provides an analysis of climate-related portfolio risk faced by educational and philanthropic endowments and presents three pathways toward reallocating an endowment portfolio into fossil-free investment opportunities, across asset …
- Posted April 8, 2016
- Publications
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The Reinvestment Handbook: Green Endowments Initiative
The Reinvestment Handbook is a resource for the next generation of responsible investors. It is designed to help students better understand their university endowment, the key pillars of SRI funds …
- Posted April 8, 2016
- Publications
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Intentionally Designed Endowments Primer
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentionally Designed Endowments Primer was developed to help endowment stakeholders establish a baseline understanding of the key issues related to aligning investment practices with institutional mission and values. It …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Publications
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Evaluating Campus Green Funds: Student Review of Campus Impacts
- University of Houston (TX)
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
Motivated by the work of the Campus Green Fund Collaborative and its AASHE publication, How-To Guide: Campus Green Fund Implementation, the Office of Sustainability at the University of Texas at …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Student sustainability grants for research, scholarship, projects and travel at Ohio State
- The Ohio State University (OH)
For the first time, Ohio State's sustainability offices are jointly managing a grants program for student projects in the areas of energy, environment and sustainability. The program helps to fund …
- Posted Feb. 26, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
PA 9: Committee on Investor Responsibility
- Description of the committee for investor responsibility (CIR)
- Examples of CIR actions during the previous 3 years
- Website URL - Committee for investor responsibility
PA 10: Sustainable Investment
- Percent of the institution's investment pool in positive sustainability investments
- Sustainability investment policy (upload)
- Sustainability investment policy (description)
- Description of public divestment effort or negative screens
- Website URL - Sustainable investment
PA 11: Investment Disclosure
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.