Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 73.13
Liaison Bridget Flynn
Submission Date March 9, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Oberlin College
PA-14: Sustainable Investment

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.34 / 4.00 Sue Meredith
Manager, Investment Operations
Investment Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total value of the investment pool:
777,000,000 US/Canadian $

Value of holdings in each of the following categories::
Value of Holdings
Sustainable industries (e.g. renewable energy or sustainable forestry) ---
Businesses selected for exemplary sustainability performance (e.g. using criteria specified in a sustainable investment policy) ---
Sustainability investment funds (e.g. a renewable energy or impact investment fund) 1,250,000 US/Canadian $
Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) or the equivalent ---
Socially responsible mutual funds with positive screens (or the equivalent) ---
Green revolving loan funds that are funded from the endowment ---

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

Initially, the IIP will focus on social and environmental opportunities in recommending investments. The IIP will seek to identify investments that, among other things, meet high-impact, solution oriented social and environmental standards and operate in a manner that reinforces a clear commitment to people, the planet, and corporate social responsibility.


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

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

Impact Investment Platform: The Oberlin College Impact Investment Platform (IIP) shall involve a collaborative, inclusive process engaging various constituencies from the entire Oberlin College community. The IIP’s investments are expected to have a measurable positive effect on targeted social and/or environmental issues, while earning a competitive rate of return relative to assets held in the Endowment. The IIP’s investment program shall include positions expected to generate investment returns in both the short term (12 to 24 months) and the long term (36 months or more). The investment horizon of the investment vehicle created for the IIP shall be consistent with the duration of Oberlin College’s goals for the IIP. The IIP Subcommittee (the Subcommittee) of the Investment Committee is charged with providing guidance to the Investment Committee on high-level issues such as policy goals and target allocation. The co- chairs of the Subcommittee shall be the Chair of the Investment Committee and the Chief Investment Officer, and the Subcommittee shall include seven other members allocated as follows: the Board of Trustees (2), Oberlin College alumni (1), the Investment Committee (1), Oberlin College faculty (1), and Oberlin College students (2). The role of the Subcommittee is advisory only and all decision-making authority regarding the IIP is reserved solely to the Investment Committee as delegated by the Board.


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:

Building on its leading-edge commitment to responsible investing through the creation of the Impact Investment Platform (IIP), and dovetailing with Oberlin's leadership in such areas as sustainability and access, the Board of Trustees has recently approved an initial allocation of $5 million to seed the IIP over the next five years.


Does the institution's sustainable investment policy include negative screens?:
Yes

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

Furthering the Board of Trustees’ commitment to making the investment process more inclusive, the Board has adopted a divestment policy providing an avenue through which students, employees, and alumni may bring forth concerns regarding endowment portfolio holdings.

After much discourse, the adopted policy states that, in accordance with the College's history of action in response to "instances of human suffering, natural calamity and injustice," the Board will consider proposals for divestment from entities that contribute to activities that "shock the conscience."


Approximate percentage of the endowment that the negative screens apply to:
100

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?:
No

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:
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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?:
No

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

Oberlin College networks with its peer colleges and universities to exchange issues and ideas.


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