Portland Community College
PA-4: Sustainable Investment Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 4.00 |
Stephania
Fregosi Sustainability Analyst Academic Affairs |
4.1 Sustainable investment policy or committee
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of how the institution has incorporated ESG factors and/or climate risk as material issues to be considered when making investment decisions:
The college reaffirmed its divestment commitment in June of 2024 when it revised the investment standards and practices (see Section 10) to create a cash and investment program.
The updated investment standards direct the investment officer college to establish an investment committee to provide guidance to the investment officer and monitor investment standards and compliances. This investment committee is to include two student representatives from the Associated Students of Portland Community College (ASPCC) as appointed by the College President.
e revised standards continue to ensure that the college’s operational and financial practices align with the college’s climate action plan and goals by ensuring that environmental, social and governance factors are considered in investment practices. They recognize the beneficial impact of such factors on economic outcomes and in risk investment.
The standards explicitly state that PCC shall not invest in fossil fuel companies and that the college’s investment officer will continue to identify and maintain prohibited industry classifications. The standards direct the Investment Officer to invest in a socially responsible manner.
PCC completes investment activities both through an approved Investment Adviser (GPA- Government Portfolio Advisers for Bond proceeds) and three standalone investment broker-dealers (Wells Fargo, Piper Sandler, DA Davidson for General Fund)
PCC funds are also held at the Local Government Investment Pool, Bank of America (in a variety of operational accounts and a nightly sweep interest-bearing account), US Bank (safekeeping as well as operational and bond retainage accounts)
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
4.2 Negative screening and divestment
Narrative and/or website URL providing evidence of the institution’s use of negative screening and/or targeted divestment in support of sustainability:
According to the college’s revised investment standards and practices (see Section 10), The standards explicitly state that PCC shall not invest in fossil fuel standards and that the college’s investment officer will continue to identify and maintain prohibited industry classifications. The standards direct the Investment Officer to invest in a socially responsible manner.
The college defines fossil fuel companies as “those companies that have measurable emission factors for each fuel type which are used to estimate the carbon content released when these fossil fuels are combusted. PCC will not invest in companies that are recognized on the Carbon Majors List for impactful carbon emission output. The measurable commodity types PCC will not invest in are oil and natural gas liquids, natural gas, and coal.”
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
4.3 Investor engagement
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s proxy voting in support of sustainability:
Has the institution filed a shareholder resolution or signed on to an investor statement in support of sustainability during the previous three years, either directly or through an investment manager?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the shareholder resolutions or investor statements in support of sustainability:
Is the institution an active participant in one or more sustainability or ESG-focused investor networks?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s participation in sustainability or ESG-focused investor networks:
PCC’s investment policy updates are required to be approved by OSTF (Oregon Short Term Fund) Investment Board.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Attached is the charter for the investment committee.
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.