Below is a series of
questions and answers that might be helpful as you consider your response to the
survey question.
What is
Socially Responsible Investment (SRI)?
- It
is a broad-based approach to investing that recognizes that social concerns are
valid parts of decisions investors may make. It considers BOTH our financial
needs as investors and seeks out investments that support sustainability and
refuses to invest in weapons, tobacco or engage in unethical business
practices.
At present, many
of the funds available to us invest in China Petrol, a company that supports the
Sudanese government in its genocide in Darfur. Few of us can spend the time
assessing every investment in any mutual fund that we hold. When we elect a SRI
fund we are investing in a company that will not support these
enterprises.
Do we
have a social responsibility fund in our current options?
- Previously
we had two such funds. When the University withdrew from TIAA CREF it removed
one option. The only remaining fund that screens for socially responsible
investments is the
Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund. It is
available to faculty and P&A staff, but not to the remainder of the staff.
It is a domestic fund and, its performance has been mediocre.
It received only 2
stars (out of 5) in the Morningstar ratings (an independent, well regarded
assessment of performance), has below average performance and above average
risk.
What
other options exist for a socially responsible fund?
- Currently,
the most highly regard SRI funds are held by PAX World Mutual Funds and Calvert
Investments. Both outperform the Vanguard fund available to us. We also want
the University to make sure that these funds are available to all university
employees.
You
can read more about SRI at: www.socialinvest.org
and/or contact one of us if you have questions: