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  • Final Report

  • The Divestment Task Force has completed its work, and this site remains active for those who wish to learn more about the process that led to its final report.

    On Jan. 24, Board of Trustees Chairman Douglas Scrivner and Chancellor Rebecca Chopp released a statement regarding the Board’s actions and sharing the Task Force’s report.

    Please read their letter, the Board's statement of principles and the Task Force report here:

  • Divestment Task Force Final Report (and Board of Trustees Jan. 24 Communication)

  • Overview & Process

  • The Board of Trustees appointed a Divestment Task Force to explore the question of fossil fuel divestment, as advocated by the student group Divest DU. The task force consisted of three Trustees: James Griesemer (chair), Craig Harrison and Catherine "Cappy" Shopneck.

    The task force explored the question of divestment in an intellectually serious and transparent way. The task force began its work over the summer of 2016 and continued into the fall.

    To examine the matter of divestment, the task force reviewed a variety of materials and heard from various experts through a series of hearings. Members of the DU community were invited to attend all hearings as observers. Copies of all documents reviewed by the task force are available on this site. In addition, when presenters agreed, presentations and discussions with the task force were video recorded and made available on Portfolio.

    The task force deliberated and then produced a report to the full Board of Trustees in advance of the Board’s January 2017 meeting. The report is avaiable above.

  • Hearings

  • The following hearings were held by the Task Force as it conducted its work. Recordings are available under the "Meeting Videos" tab.

    Hearing #1:
    Thursday, July 7
    9:00-11:00 a.m., Anderson Academic Commons Room 290
    Fiduciary Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees (Paul Chan, University Counsel)
    History of DU's Sustainability Efforts (Jeff Bemelen, Director of Facilities Management).

    Hearing #2:
    Thursday, August 4
    9:00 - 11:00 a.m., Anderson Academic Commons Room 290
    University Endowments (Craig Woody, University Vice Chancellor Business and Financial Affairs and Margaret Henry, Controller and Assistant Treasurer)
    The Effectiveness of Divestment as a Sustainability Strategy (Brett Fleishman, 350.org Senior Global Analyst)

    Hearing #3
    Thursday, August 18
    9:00 - 11:00 a.m., Anderson Academic Commons Room 290
    Divestment from Fossil Fuel Firms (Frank Laird, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor International Studies, Korbel School)
    Investment Implications of Divestment:  A Practical Perspective - Wendy Dominguez, Innovest

    Hearing #4
    Thursday, September 1
    9:00 - 11:00 a.m., Anderson Academic Commons Room 290
    University Endowment Investment Process (Cambridge Associates)
    Divestment - An Industry Perspective (Simon Lomax, Adviser to Divestment Facts)

    Hearing #5
    Thursday, September 15
    9:00 - 11:00 a.m., Anderson Academic Commons Room 290

    Political Risk (Michaela Mujica-Steiner, Political Liaison and Narrative Strategy Consultant for Divestment Student Network and Colorado Statewide Organizer for 350 Action)
    Ethical Considerations in Policy Decision Making (Anthony J. Gray, President and CEO, Institute for Global Ethics)

    Hearing #6
    Thursday, September 29
    9:00 - 11:00 a.m., Anderson Academic Commons Room 290
    Faculty Senate Perspective - (Dr. Kate Willink, Faculty Senate President, Associate Professor)
    Shared Governance and Divestment - (Dr. Darrin Hicks, Professor)
    Sustainability at DU: Our Past and Future Directions (Dr. Rebecca Powell, Associate Professor)
    Lessons Learned: How The Denver Foundation Addressed Socially Responsible Investments, Impact Investing, Divestment, and Related Issues (David Miller, DU Institute for Philanthropy and Social Enterprise)

    Hearing #7
    Thursday, October 6
    9:00 - 11:00 a.m., Anderson Academic Commons Room 290
    Climate Change, Sustainability and the University of Denver - (Fred Cheever, Law Professor and Chad King, DU Sustainability Coordinator)
    Divest DU Students' Perspective

This portfolio last updated: 11-Jan-2022 2:53 PM