A Shared Vision
The Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility (ACIR) brings together students, faculty, staff and alumni in a reflection of the way that USC’s commitment to divestment from fossil fuels occurred – through a shared vision and a passion for the Trojan community. The decision to liquidate USC’s endowment investments in fossil fuels came about through years of student organizing and activism that resulted in strong alignment across USC’s community.
Student support for divestment began prior to 2013 with environmental student group demonstrations. Widespread support accelerated when President Folt took office in 2019. On the day of her inauguration, she supported and attended a student Climate Strike where the primary focus was investments in fossil fuels. Her support of student initiatives continued and in February 2020, she and members of USC’s Investment Committee met with students, for the first time in USC’s history, to discuss the University’s endowment holdings.
Following that meeting, a dedicated group of undergraduate and graduate students continued to organize and advocate for divestment, and in November of 2020, both the Undergraduate Student Government and the Graduate Student Government passed resolutions supporting fossil fuel divestment and reinvestment. In December, the Academic Senate did the same, demonstrating an alignment in values across the university community. By February 2021, the Investment Committee of the USC Board of Trustees voted to freeze new fossil fuel investments and liquidate existing holdings over the next several years. Additionally, the university announced the creation of the ACIR which would be comprised of members of the Trojan community.