Overall Rating Platinum - expired
Overall Score 85.29
Liaison Tonie Miyamoto
Submission Date March 23, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Colorado State University
PA-14: Sustainable Investment

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.05 / 4.00 Nik Olsen
Assistant Director of Administrative Communications
Office of the President
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total value of the investment pool:
325,413,844.15 US/Canadian $

Value of holdings in each of the following categories::
Value of Holdings
Sustainable industries (e.g. renewable energy or sustainable forestry) 0 US/Canadian $
Businesses selected for exemplary sustainability performance (e.g. using criteria specified in a sustainable investment policy) 0 US/Canadian $
Sustainability investment funds (e.g. a renewable energy or impact investment fund) 18,612,070.04 US/Canadian $
Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) or the equivalent 0 US/Canadian $
Socially responsible mutual funds with positive screens (or the equivalent) 0 US/Canadian $
Green revolving loan funds that are funded from the endowment 0 US/Canadian $

A brief description of the companies, funds, and/or institutions referenced above:

Colorado State University Foundation invests with third-party, external investment managers who manage portfolios of securities and companies. Through its external investment managers, Colorado State University Foundation has investment in renewable energy (wind turbine, solar panels), energy recycling, engineering services for alternative energy installations and other environmentally responsible investments. Also, Colorado State University Foundation chooses third-party investment managers who regularly monitor, address, train and seek to improve ESG (environmental, social and governance) developments within their portfolio.


Does the institution have a publicly available sustainable investment policy?:
Yes

A copy of the sustainable investment policy:
The sustainable investment policy:

The Board of Directors of Colorado State University Foundation has adopted an Investment Policy addressing socially responsible investing. Such policy recognizes the existence of social and environmental issues and their adverse impacts to humanity and the world.


Does the institution use its sustainable investment policy to select and guide investment managers?:
Yes

A brief description of how the policy is applied, including recent examples:

Within the last two years, CSU Foundation has invested in two different investment managers that focus on supporting Colorado technology and on making an impact on Colorado socially and environmentally. We continue to look at investments and investment managers that not only meet our mandate of providing the best possible investment return while preserving the endowment corpus, but also seek to make meaningful socially responsible investments.


Does the institution's sustainable investment policy include negative screens?:
No

A brief description of the negative screens and how they have been implemented:

CSU last conducted a Negative Screening in 2009 in consideration of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.


Approximate percentage of the endowment that the negative screens apply to:
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Has the institution engaged in proxy voting, either by its CIR or other committee or through the use of guidelines, to promote sustainability during the previous three years?:
Yes

A copy of the proxy voting guidelines or proxy record:
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A brief description of how managers are adhering to proxy voting guidelines:

The CSU Foundation carefully reviews and votes all received proxy votes in accordance with its Socially Responsible Investment Policy.


Has the institution filed or co-filed one or more shareholder resolutions that address sustainability or submitted one or more letters about social or environmental responsibility to a company in which it holds investments during the previous three years?:
Yes

Examples of how the institution has engaged with corporations in its portfolio about sustainability issues during the previous three years:

The CSU Foundation regularly communicates its support and involvement in environmental initiatives and stewardship to all of its investment managers. This communication specifically encourages the managers to consider investments supporting and embracing sustainability, renewable energy and community development.


Does the institution engage in policy advocacy by participating in investor networks and/or engaging in inter-organizational collaborations to share best practices?:
Yes

A brief description of the investor networks and/or collaborations:

CSU participates in an annual forum for local Universities looking to review their investment policies. Sustainability and social issues are important aspects of this agenda.


The website URL where information about the institution's sustainable investment efforts is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.