Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 50.03
Liaison Mike Evans
Submission Date May 28, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Williams College
PA-8: Committee on Investor Responsibility

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Abigail Wattley
Director
Investment Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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

None
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 Advisory Committee on Shareholder Responsibility (ACSR) is a non-standing committee comprised of two faculty, two staff, two students, and two alumni. The ACSR provides advice to the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees on matters relating to the non-financial performance of publicly traded equities in the portfolio. Each year, the ACSR advises on votes regarding shareholder resolutions before the annual general meetings of the public companies the College owns directly. In making recommendations, the ACSR seeks to carry out its responsibilities in a manner consistent with College policies and values. It recognizes the importance of combining strong financial performance with social and environmental commitment. Periodically, the ACSR has played a role in providing comment on other matters, including recommending investment vehicles for the Williams Social Choice Fund — an alumni giving option that both helps the College fulfill its mission and contributes to positive social and environmental change.

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 Mahon, Faculty Nimu Njoya, Faculty David A. Love, Staff Fred Puddester, Staff Abigail Wattley '05 (ex officio), Staff Paul Neely '68, Alumni Laurie Thomsen '79, Alumni Eliza Klein '19, Student Ali Ladha '21, Student"

None
Examples of CIR actions during the previous three years:
Since 2006, the Committee has been responsible for oversight of the College’s commitment to avoid investment in firms doing business in Sudan. The mission statement above outlines the CIR actions. For the most part, the body exists for when a topic related to socially responsible investment comes up. An example of this is the discussion about fossil fuel divestment, where they published "A Proposal for Divestment" presented to the Board of Trustees. The President and the Board of Trustees concluded for many reasons that Williams will not respond with the symbolic act of divestment, but rather by making significant investments in clean energy projects, practices and companies, and in our core educational mission.

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