Editorial: Greater transparency
In the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2011, Princeton University reported a 21.9 percent annual return on its investments, valued at $17.1 billion. The growth was in the top percentile of over 400 institutions reporting to the Trust Universe Comparison Service. These numbers demonstrate healthy finances for the University: A steady growth of endowment investments allows the University to fund study abroad programs, research opportunities and large initiatives such as the no-loan financial aid program. However, we release relatively little information about how we invest our endowment. In fact, a recent College Sustainability Report Card survey grades Princeton’s endowment transparency a D — one of the worst in the country. While information on endowment holdings is made available to trustees and senior administrators, we provide no information to the broader school community or the general public unlike the majority of our peer institutions.