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.
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Green Fund
- Loyola University Maryland (MD)
In February 2014, the Senate of the Student Government Association of Loyola University Maryland approved a $2,000 budget line to a new “Green Fund” initiative to go towards sustainability projects …
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
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Campus Environmental Sustainability Fund
- Mount Holyoke College (MA)
The goal of the MHC Campus Environmental Sustainability Fund is to enable members of the community to undertake campus projects to advance the College’s desire to reduce the environmental footprint …
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
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Earthkeepers Mini-Grants
- Eastern Mennonite University (VA)
Every year EarthKeepers looks for grant proposals from the EMU community that impact the campus in a visible, creative, educational way. Winning proposals are chosen and funded based on the …
- Posted Feb. 7, 2019
- Green Funds
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Dollars are Flying Out of Your Green Fund! Does that Equal Success?
- Texas A&M University (TX)
The Aggie Green Fund was established at Texas A&M University in 2011 and remains a resource for students to lead green initiatives. Areas of success and improvement in the utilization …
- Posted Dec. 21, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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The Role of Universities in Private Environmental Governance Experimentalism
- University of Pennsylvania (PA)
In our federal, constitutional system of government, the states are often lauded as “laboratories of experimentation” for public policy, including for public environmental law. Yet private actors are playing an …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2018
- Publications
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Bill McKibben’s Influence on U.S. Climate Change Discourse: Shifting Field-Level Debates Through Radical Flank Effects
- Temple University (PA)
- University of Michigan (MI)
- 350.org (NY)
This article examines the influence of radical flank actors in shifting field-level debates by increasing the legitimacy of preexisting but peripheral issues. Using network text analysis, we apply this conceptual …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2018
- Publications
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How Committed Are Australian Universities to Environmental Sustainability? A Perspective on and from the University of Melbourne
- University of Melbourne (Victoria)
Drawing upon our experiences at the University of Melbourne, we examine the issue of how environmentally sustainable that university and other Australian universities are in an era increasingly impacted by …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2018
- Publications
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Internal Carbon Tax: Methods and Results from the First Rigorous Willingness-to-Pay Study
- University of Oregon (OR)
Internal carbon fees raise awareness, incentivize behavior changes, and create revenue streams to reduce emissions. While there are a substantial number of internal carbon pricing programs in the private sector, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Student Green Funds: Lessons Learned
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (IL)
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
Three campuses will share their experiences creating and working with Green Funds. The panel will review key lessons learned regarding Green Fund structure, function, efficacy, longevity and campus engagement. When …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Advocating for Sustainability: Effective Communications With Finance
- Millersville University (PA)
- National Association of College & University Business Officers (NACUBO) (DC)
This session is designed to help sustainability professionals advocate successfully for necessary financial support for sustainability initiatives. For many years the National Association for College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Aligning Endowment Investments With the Sustainable Development Goals
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
- MSCI (NY)
The past few years have seen a surge in interest and activity around how endowment investment practices can be better aligned with institutional mission, values, and sustainability goals. Endowment decision-makers …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Moving Toward Climate Justice Through Divestment and Reinvestment
- Better Future Project (MA)
All colleges have an endowment that they use to invest in a broad range of industries. Divestment is a powerful tactic where institutions can use their political and financial power …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Divestment: How Public Universities Can Defund Climate Change
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
This presentation addresses widely held beliefs regarding institutional investors, specifically higher education's approach to investments, and provides a review of methods of fossil fuel divestment campaigns across the country. By …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Celebrating Anniversaries: Reflecting and Adapting within Campus Green Funds
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Adaptability is key for any successful program. In spring of 2016, students renewed The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) at UC Berkeley for an additional 10 years, celebrating 10 years of …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Adapting Portfolios to Climate Change: 2 Degrees Investing
- Natixis Investment Managers (MA)
Green bonds are growing: Between 2015 and 2016 worldwide issuances of green bonds nearly doubled from $41 billion to $80 billion. The growth trajectory continued in 2017, as issuances for …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Solutions for Evaluating Projects: Quadruple Bottom Line & Financial Models for Climate Neutrality
- Cornell University (NY)
It's time to move the conversation beyond 'financing climate neutrality.' In order to move away from traditional financial, single bottom line decision making for large capital investments, institutions must create …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Divestment and Bureaucracy: how to Capitalize on and Celebrate Small Incremental Change
- University of Pittsburgh (PA)
Fossil Free Pitt Coalition is a coalition of 50 different clubs that are pushing the University of Pittsburgh to divest its endowment away from fossil fuels. This is an especially …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Creating Campus Revenue Streams to Support Sustainability Initiatives
- Brown University (RI)
- Ithaca College (NY)
- Michigan State University (MI)
- Ecosystem (QC)
Educational institutions across North America are aiming to reduce both energy spend and GHG emissions, with targets ranging from 10%-50% by 2030, 2025, or even 2020. At the same time, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Contracting for Renewable Energy Procurement: Financing and Legal Strategies and Considerations
- K&L Gates (DC)
Colleges and universities are adopting aggressive sustainability targets and deadlines to reduce carbon emissions. To meet these targets, institutions have a range of options, including installing on-site energy generation and …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Getting to a Green Light: How to Build Organizational Buy-In for Large-Scale Renewable Energy
- Brown University (RI)
- Michigan State University (MI)
- Coho Climate Advisors (MD)
This interactive and action-oriented session will provide insights and tools to update your understanding of renewable energy, map out critical stakeholders on campus, and translate the renewable energy opportunity into …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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From Student Power to Renewable Energy: A New Approach to Investing in Solar
- Southern Oregon University (OR)
Over the last year and a half, students at Southern Oregon University have worked to develop an innovative new approach to funding solar. Inspired by the power purchase agreement model, …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Paying for Sustainable Development from Wasted Energy
- NORESCO (NC)
The World Green Building Council posits that green buildings support nine UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Public-Private Partnerships (P3) have become a popular mechanism for higher education institutions to transform …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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A Billion Dollar Deal: Public-Private Energy Partnership Advances Campus Effort Beyond Efficiency
- The Ohio State University (OH)
- ENGIE (TX)
In July 2017, Ohio State launched an innovative approach to sustainably manage its building energy use, in a manner that will provide significant energy management knowledge and financial capital back …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Best Practices in Integrating Sustainability and Business Education
- Appalachian State University (NC)
- North Carolina State University (NC)
This workshop focuses on how to integrate sustainability concepts into business education and increase engagement with the business community to improve their impacts. The primary focus will be on how …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Ideas into Actions: The ECOllective Fund and Student-led Sustainability Initiatives at CofC
- College of Charleston (SC)
Each semester at the College of Charleston, students pay a 'Green Fee,' established in the fall of 2009 of $10 that is put into a fund that we call the …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Paying for Sustainability: Creating a Relationship With Institutional Advancement
- Bentley University (MA)
- Babson College (MA)
Over the years, the percentage of alumni giving to their alma maters has been declining. Lower alumni giving not only means less income; it also lowers an institution's standing in …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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The Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement and Student Activism at Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF
- The Ohio State University (OH)
On April 1, 2015, Syracuse University announced that it would divest its $1.18 billion endowment from fossil fuels. Shortly thereafter, its partner institution, SUNY-ESF, made the same commitment. These moves …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Green Revolving Reserve and LEED Platinum buildings at the U
- University of Miami (FL)
Poster will explain: - The mechanisms of the U Green revolving Reserve that has been financing close to $1 million in energy efficiency retrofit. - Highlight of the sustainable features …
- Posted Nov. 5, 2018
- Conference Presentations
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Carbon Neutral Campus: Solar Research
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
This project was set out to analyze two UIC buildings, the Student Services Building and the Pharmacognosy Field Station, in order to determine their potential for solar energy along with …
- Posted Aug. 10, 2018
- Case Studies
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Paradigm Project
- American University (DC)
A woman outside Nairobi, Kenya holds a wood-burning, efficient cookstove from the Paradigm Project.
- Posted July 30, 2018
- Photographs
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Sustainability at the University of Ottawa
- University of Ottawa (ON)
These pictures show the president of the University of Ottawa and several employees from Facilities show off bikes from the bicycle fleet in front of the Tabaret Building, as well …
- Posted July 30, 2018
- Photographs
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Vassar Groveville Hydro Project
- Vassar College (NY)
Photo Credit: Karl Rabe/ Vassar College In Fall 2015, Vassar College signed a 20-year agreement with Gravity Renewables to establish a purchasing partnership with a small scale hydropower project on …
- Posted July 27, 2018
- Photographs
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UMass Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign
- University of Massachusetts Amherst (MA)
UMass Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign
- Posted July 26, 2018
- Photographs
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University of Northern Colorado Student Leadership for Environmental Action Fund (Student LEAF)
- University of Northern Colorado (CO)
Student LEAF is a student driven environmental action fund run by a committee of 7 students advised by one faculty and one facilities staff member.
The mission of Student LEAF …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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University of Memphis - Green Fee
- University of Memphis (TN)
The Sustainability Fee, commonly known as the Green Fee, at the University of Memphis, was initiated by students and launched in 2007. The purpose of the fee is to support …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Case Studies
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IEN Toolkit: How to Start and Run a Student-Managed SRI Fund
- Intentional Endowments Network (MA)
The Intentional Endowment Network's (IEN) new resource, titled "IEN Toolkit: How to Start and Run a Student-Managed SRI Fund", was designed to aid in the creation of new student-managed funds, …
- Posted May 21, 2018
- Publications
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A Behavior Based Energy Conservation Program at Suffolk County Community College
- Suffolk County Community College (NY)
Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) is the largest community college in New York State, with over 26,000 students enrolled across three campuses and two extension sites. As a large institution …
- Posted May 18, 2018
- Case Studies
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AASHE Webinar: Going Green - Financially and Environmentally
- Texas A&M University (TX)
- Siemens Industry, Inc. (IL)
- AASHE (MA)
This introductory webinar is designed to help campus representatives think critically about what it means to "go green" both financially and environmentally.
- Posted April 12, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Enabling Divestment from Fossil Fuels: Characterizing Divestment Awareness and Support at Dalhousie University
- Dalhousie University (NS)
A team of students at Dalhousie University has come together to develop a comprehensive research report on the state of divestment from fossil fuels at their University. Divestment campaigns have …
- Posted April 11, 2018
- Publications
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Implementation Strategies for Campus Green Revolving Funds
- Agnes Scott College (GA)
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
- AASHE (MA)
- ICF International (VA)
Many colleges and universities have begun to adopt or seriously consider the green revolving fund model to help finance urgently needed energy efficiency upgrades on campus. This webinar will provide …
- Posted April 3, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Investment and Divestment: Making Sustainable Choices with Campus Endowment
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
- AASHE (MA)
- 350.org (NY)
You've read about it in the news and have maybe even participated in the discussion or campaign on your campus -- divesting the campus endowment from fossil fuel resources is …
- Posted April 3, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Pedagogical methods for sustainable development: business educational projects generating direct impact on stakeholders through fundraising and fund management
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Duquesne University (PA)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
- Universidade Federal Fluminense
Business Schools have faced the challenge of emphasising ethics and sustainability by developing students as professionals able to meet current sustainability needs. To date, there is limited practical guidance in …
- Posted March 29, 2018
- Publications
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Green Gigawatt Partnership: Ramping Up Renewables in Higher Education
- Cornell University (NY)
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Trio (CA)
The Green Gigawatt Partnership seeks to catalyze one gigawatt of green power development by 2020 by recognizing colleges and universities who have signed long term contracts to purchase green power …
- Posted March 27, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Integrated circular economy and education model to address aspects of an energy-water-food nexus in a dairy facility and local contexts
- Başkent University
Universities have responsibilities for accelerating pedagogical innovation to enable a more sustainable future. This research work develops a three-phased approach for integrating principles of a circular economy system within a …
- Posted March 22, 2018
- Publications
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The Impact of Sustainable Purchasing Decisions
- Delta College (MI)
- University of Colorado Boulder (CO)
- National Association of Educational Procurement (MD)
- AASHE (MA)
- Interface Global (GA)
- Ray C Anderson Foundation (GA)
This is the 4th and final webinar in the Sustainable Consumption: Sustainable Campus (SC2) series by AASHE supported by the Ray C. Anderson Foundation. The webinar will address the impact …
- Posted March 12, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Advanced Strategies and Analytics for Campus Green Revolving Funds
- California Institute of Technology (CA)
- Sustainable Endowments Institute (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
- ICF International (VA)
As more colleges and universities create green revolving funds on campus to finance urgently needed efficiency projects, they may encounter complex problems related to the technical aspects of running a …
- Posted March 9, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Empowering Procurement to Transform Your Campus and the Economy
- American University (DC)
- Emory University (GA)
- AASHE (MA)
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (MA)
Learn how campuses spend money and how they can develop practices and policies that make spending a positive contribution to sustainability. Attendees will gain insight from sustainability officers, campus procurement …
- Posted March 9, 2018
- Videos & Webinars
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Education for Sustainable Development: Business modelling for flourishing
- OCAD University (ON)
- Halmstad University
As companies and other organizations increasingly recognize society’s demand for greater social and environmental sustainability, university and college business schools have responded with new pedagogic approaches. Business schools have begun …
- Posted Feb. 20, 2018
- Publications
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Fossil fuel divestment in US higher education: student-led organising for climate justice
- Pitzer College (CA)
- Responsible Endowments Coalition (PA)
Based on over one year of participant observation within the student-led fossil fuel divestment (FFD) movement, this article contextualises the origins, successes, challenges, and inner workings of the FFD movement …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
- Publications
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Evalutation of TETFUND contributions for the management of universities for sustainable development in southeast Nigeria
- Imo State University
Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) was established as an Intervention Agency under the Education Tax Act No. 7 in 1993 as Education Trust Fund. As an aspect of community participation …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- 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.