Overall Rating Platinum - expired
Overall Score 88.14
Liaison Tonie Miyamoto
Submission Date Dec. 6, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Colorado State University
PA-8: Committee on Investor Responsibility

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Tonie Miyamoto
Director of Communications and Sustainability
Housing and Dining Services
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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?:
Yes

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:

The Committee on Investor Responsibility (CIR) for CSU Foundation encourages investment in sustainable industries, renewable energy initiatives, and community development in a prudent, fiduciarily responsible way that aligns with the objectives of the investment portfolio. CIR reviews the Socially Responsible Investing policy on an annual basis and makes ongoing recommendations on how to improve sustainable investment.

The CIR consists of students, members of the CSUF Board and staff, CSU faculty (CSU College of Business sponsoring faculty), CSU staff, alumni (CSUF Board and committee members who are alumni), CSU Governing Board members, and community members.

Proxy Voting Guidelines from Socially Responsible Investing policy:
"Due to the nature of certain investment vehicles (mutual fund type investments), most funds do not afford the Foundation the ability to submit a proxy vote. However, occasionally the ability to vote arises. The management and staff of the Foundation, where possible, have been given the charge to vote proxy votes in a manner in which the environment and other socially responsible initiatives are supported."

At least annually the Foundation/CIR encourages each manager to consider investments in sustainable industries and renewable energy initiatives via a personalized letter from the President/CEO and endorsed by the Board of Directors. The Foundation tracks responses from each manager to ensure that the message has been received and read.


Does the CIR include staff representation?:
Yes

Does the CIR include faculty representation?:
Yes

Does the CIR include student representation?:
Yes

Members of the CIR, including affiliations and role (e.g. student, faculty, staff, alumni):

James A. Martell CSUF Board Chairman
David Diehl, CSU Foundation Director
Cherí O’Neill, CSU Foundation Director
Luke Daniel, CSU Foundation Investment Committee Chair
Deb Couture, CSU Foundation Audit Committee Member
Ric Thomas, CSU Foundation Director
Scott Thisted, CSU Foundation Director
Allen Padilla, CSU Foundation CFO/Director of Investments/Secretary-Treasurer
Terilyn Larson, CSU Foundation Controller
Sara Campbell, CSU Foundation Investment Liaison
Jane Belford, CSU Foundation Fund Administration Manager
Kerry Miller, CSU Foundation Operations Manager
Rick Ciccione, NEPC Investing Consulting
Sam Pollack, NEPC Investing Consulting
KC Connors NEPC
Karen Leaffer, Leaffer Law Firm – CSU Foundation Legal Counsel
Kim Tobin Vice President, University Advancement (administration)
Lynn Johnson Vice President for University Operations (administration)
Craig Choun, Plante Moran
Ryan Harris, Plante Moran
Chris Stein, CSU College of Business Faculty Member (faculty)
Rob Leonard, Summit Student Fund Member (student)
Evan Kay, Summit Student Fund Member (student)
Cole Howard, Summit Student Fund Member (student)
Dan McNulty, Summit Student Fund Member (student)
Ben Eisenbeis, Summit Student Fund Member (student)
Colin Glath, CSU Facilities Management (staff)
Dan Kozlowksi, CSU Facilities Management (staff)
Dean Singleton Board of Governors Representative (community member)


Examples of CIR actions during the previous three years:

Within the last three years, the CSU Foundation has engaged in discussions revolving around ESG screening. On an annual basis the CIR reviews CSU Foundation's Socially Responsible Investing policy. The CSU Foundation sends out letters to all active investment managers within the portfolio reminding them to seek sustainable investments when possible and share reports back. Since the last STARS report in 2017, CSU Foundation has increased sustainable investment from 3.9% to 12.6%.

The CIR also has a commitment to support student ESG priorities and enhance their learning by including students who run the Summit Fund, a student-run investment in the College of Business with a social/environmental lens, to be part of CIR and present their fund analysis at an annual meeting.

Meeting minutes from the November 2018 CIR meeting are linked below.


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:
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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.