Faculty Counselor Report: Investment Committee

At the October Faculty Council meeting, Tamara Caspary reported on her experience as the Faculty Counselor for the Board of Trustees’ Investment Committee. Emory University’s endowment value reached a record high of almost $7 billion as of June 30, 2015, earning a 3.6 percent return on investment over the trailing 12 months. Emory Investment Management (EIM), the group that oversees the endowment, continues to maintain a well-diversified portfolio, to invest with best-in-class external partners, and to seek opportunities to add value throughout market cycles. EIM directs the day-to-day operations with four groups: private investments, public investments, buy/sell, and asset management. The investment strategy is research-driven, team-based, and disciplined. Emory’s endowment was strengthened by philanthropic gifts totaling $72 million, representing continued generosity and confidence among donors. Growth was offset by net distributions of $258 million to support Emory’s academic programs and research support.

Provost’s Remarks – January Faculty Council Meeting

Provost Claire Sterk discussed new faculty seminars that will be offered to Emory trustees at their February board meeting. Nine Emory professors will present a series of educational sessions to provide the experience of “what it is like to be a learner, to be exposed to different ways in which faculty can teach, to get a sense of what it takes to prepare a class,” she said. The second part of the seminar will focus on “the value of the topic being discussed, what’s the social impact, how does it contribute to the public good, how does it link to public scholarship?”