Hamline University will launch a new student-managed investment fund with a $5M endowment as part of a new course offering in the Spring 2025 semester. The fund will be managed by Hamline students, preparing tomorrow’s financial analysts by offering an unprecedented opportunity for finance undergraduates to work directly with investment professionals and develop real-world asset management experience.
“We are very excited about the expansion of this impactful program that invites our students to learn in collaboration with leaders in the finance field to responsibly and productively steward a part of the university investments,” said Marcela Kostihova, Dean of Hamline’s College of Liberal Arts. “It is exactly these kinds of real world learning opportunities that help our students excel.”
“This isn't theoretical; students will be investing real dollars. The experience empowers them to make impactful decisions for the university and positions them to launch successful careers in finance,” said Susan Kerry, Hamline Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Finance and Administration.
As part of the curriculum, students will set their own investment objectives and make group decisions to grow the fund, 4.5% of which will be distributed annually to help fund university operations. This instructional framework and out-of-class experience allows for practical application of finance theory in portfolio construction and asset management by introducing students to the day-to-day activities and thinking processes of professional investors.
“As an employer in the investment industry, we typically only see students with this kind of hands-on experience with university funds at the graduate level,” said Hamline Trustee Bryce Doty ’88, Senior VP/Senior Portfolio Manager at Sit Investment Associates. “You can really tell the difference between an analyst candidate who has hands-on experience and practical application – they are more confident in the interview process and have more confidence and sophistication in the ability to approach risk.”
Hamline has a history of success in student-managed funds, as the Piper Investment Fund (which is managed by a university club and not part of a class) was established 21 years ago with a $35,000 endowment contribution and has since grown to $474,000 in assets. Hamline students’ practical work in this field over the years has inspired mutually beneficial partnerships with financial institutions, resulting in on-campus resources like the Wells Fargo Finance and Analytics Room.
Additionally, success in the new student investment fund will attract excellent and motivated business students to Hamline and ultimately bolster the Twin Cities financial services industry with a better-prepared generation of financial professionals.
