We are pleased to share that both the Task Force on Social Responsibility in Investing and the Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships have opened calls today for expressions of interest to become a member.
The University has also published the names of direct investments and the investment manager and fund names for actively and passively managed pooled investment funds for the endowment and the registered pension plan.
We welcome representation from University of Waterloo faculty, staff, and students with appropriate expertise.
- Submit a nomination for the Task Force on Social Responsibility in Investing
- Submit a nomination for the Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships
More information on the mandate for each task force can be found on the Task Force on Social Responsibility in Investing and Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships websites. The deadline to apply is July 9, 2024.
Why we’re establishing these task forces
For several months, members of the University community have raised and discussed issues related to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. This has included student protest activity, representations to both the Board and Senate, and questions raised by members of both governance bodies.
On June 3, 2024, President Vivek Goel shared that the University would take three specific actions:
- To improve transparency on institutional investment portfolios, the University has published the direct investments and the investment manager and fund names for actively and passively managed pooled investment funds for the endowment and the registered pension plan.
- The Task Force on Social Responsibility in Investing will review the University’s Responsible Investment Policy and related policy framework with a lens on social factors including international human rights and diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as consideration of further disclosure practices and processes for the community to bring forward expressions of concern; and
- The Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships will review our current practices and develop recommendations on a unified framework for principles for partnerships across all institutional portfolios that reflect Waterloo’s values.
These task forces will aim to conclude by the end of the 2024 calendar year, culminating in reports and recommendations to the President, the Board of Governors and broader University community.
What’s next
Community members will have an opportunity to make representations to the task forces and participate in its consultations which will be supported by subject matter experts through the fall. More information about consultations, including an online feedback form, will be available shortly. Task force members will be published online before the end of July.
As President Goel previously acknowledged, we have significant work ahead of us as a community to develop the principles and frameworks that will help build confidence and consensus on how the University handles investments and partnerships today and into the future. We urge all members of our community to consider how they can productively contribute to this important work.
If you have questions about the Task Force on Social Responsibility in Investing, please email: taskforce-investing@uwaterloo.ca.
For questions about the Task Force on Principles for Institutional Partnerships, please email: taskforce-partnerships@uwaterloo.ca.
Jacinda Reitsma
Vice-President, Administration and Finance
Office of the Vice-President, Administration and Finance
Charmaine B. Dean
Vice-President, Research and International
Office of the Vice-President, Research and International
