Business Administration
Student Managed Fund - History

 History

On February 17, 1998, the Trinity University Board of Trustees approved the allocation of $500,000 of the university endowment fund to be managed by students in a new finance class- Student Managed Fund.  This vote of approval followed the research and proposal of three students who convinced the Trustees to approve the class.  Following the students' presentation, one Trustee said, "This action represents and investment in the education of Trinity students."

Baker Duncan, then chair of the Investment Committee (Trustees), and Ronald Calgaard, then president of Trinity University, counseled the students during the several months prior to the presentation.  Their advice and that of other Trustees helped shape the course.  They felt that students should focus primarily on equity investments and have the primary responsibility for stock selection.  At the same time, they were concerned about students having a short-term investment horizon and recommended a two-semester course to lessen that potential problem and to develop sufficient knowledge and skills necessary for students to make actual investment decisions.  Their stated goal was to teach students to be successful investors, not speculators.

The founding of the class distinguishes Trinity University as one of the few universities in the United States with a student managed fund.  Only about one percent of all colleges and universities have such a classroom opportunity for undergraduate students to experience the world of investing.