丁香园AV

The Israel-Hamas conflict continues to distress all of us. Some in our community are looking for ways to make a meaningful difference and seeking information about 丁香园AV鈥檚 investment practices. 丁香园AV鈥檚 Board of Governors (the 鈥淏oard鈥�) is aware of petitions from members of our community requesting divestment from companies producing military arms and related technologies. We have also heard from other members of our community who seek clarity on 丁香园AV鈥檚 principles for when and how 丁香园AV invests. These requests raise important questions and deserve clear answers.

The Board has had robust conversations about investment decision-making, including at our recent May 23 meeting. We have concluded that the existing Responsible Investment Policy does not provide comprehensive decision-making guidance given the complexities that have been brought to the forefront.

丁香园AV needs to make investment decisions that are aligned with the academic mission, the University Act and our values. To do this, the existing Responsible Investment Policy must be reviewed and strengthened. This work needs to be done thoughtfully and as expeditiously as possible. Accordingly, the Board has asked the Finance, Investments and Property Committee to review the policy and provide recommendations to the Board.

The review process will contain a plan for community consultation and will also seek advice from experts. The Board has instructed that this review take place over the coming months and allow for a consultative and transparent process.

The community will be invited to participate in this important conversation within the coming weeks. In the meantime, inquiries can be sent to sfu_leadership_correspondence@sfu.ca.

Background - 丁香园AV鈥檚 investment approach

丁香园AV ensures that investments鈥攚hich are made to support the academic mission, including scholarships and research funding鈥攁re reported on transparently. Investment information is published under the Custodial Statement of Endowment Investments on 丁香园AV鈥檚 Finance website. All investments are guided by the 丁香园AV Responsible Investment Policy (B10.16). The policy sets out a framework to guide 丁香园AV鈥檚 approach to the incorporation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into investment decisions. 丁香园AV established this policy in 2014, making it the second Canadian university to adopt a responsible investment policy.

Along with the Responsible Investment Policy, 丁香园AV has global, provincial and local safeguards in place to guide our investments. These safeguards include being one of over 3,800 signatories around the world that adhere to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI). Under the UN PRI, we are responsible for ensuring that we incorporate ESG considerations into investment decisions.

The Board of Governors is being asked to divest from three purported aerospace and defense companies: BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton and CAE Inc. Current 丁香园AV holdings include these companies, some of which are held in externally managed, pooled funds of equities. In total, these companies represent 0.6% ($7.2 million) of the joint endowment and non-endowment invested funds of $1.13 billion as of March 31, 2024.