Higher education bonds

The University of Texas System will seek savings with a $134 million refunding of revenue bonds.

U.S. lawmakers are stepping up scrutiny of colleges and universities with endowments of more than $1 billion and are threatening to introduce legislation that could jeopardize the tax-exempt status of their bonds.

Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear said Friday he will file suit if Gov. Matt Bevin fails to rescind immediate budget cuts the governor imposed at state colleges and universities.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s signature on recently passed legislation will clear a path for the University of Colorado’s $168 million issue of new money and refunding bonds.

Citing strong enrollment growth and improving financial trends, Standard & Poor’s upgraded Texas Tech University System to AA-plus.

The University of Connecticut intends to sell $342 million of GO bonds under its UConn 2000 infrastructure improvement program, including a $42 million refunding.

Texas A&M University System reported higher-than-expected savings on the refunding of its revenue bonds after a Standard & Poor’s upgrade to triple-A.

Standard & Poor’s put five of the seven Illinois public universities it rates on CreditWatch, citing the Illinois budget impasse.

The University of Pennsylvania received a one-notch bond rating upgrade from Moody’s Investors Service, to Aa1 from Aa2.

DePaul University in Chicago will sell $70 million Tuesday primarily to finance a new music school building.

Since 2010, over 64,000 new beds on more than 100 different campuses across the country have been financed, built and are being maintained by the private sector.

The Illinois General Assembly’s Democratic majority failed Wednesday to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a $721 million bill that would have provided aid for cash-starved community colleges and low income student grants.

Chicago-based Roosevelt University lost one of its investment grade ratings as it struggles with operating deficits driven by the strains of enrollment losses and a hefty debt load.

Ohio State University hits the market with its first sale under a $1 billion borrowing program that will use an offering statement style in the same vein as corporate shelf registration that will allow it to sell multiple issues with the same documentation.

The College of DuPage in suburban Chicago lost its remaining triple-A rating over its governance turmoil and instability.

Three of Illinois' public universities were downgraded, one to junk, as impacts from the state's almost eight-month overdue budget continue to ripple.

The University of Chicago took a hit from Standard & Poor’s, which downgraded the school to AA-minus from AA amid balance-sheet pressure and planned deficits.

Eight Louisiana universities face budget cuts amid the state's fiscal crisis, prompting Moody's Investors Service to place the institutions on review for possible downgrade.

The University of Arizona is looking for interest rate savings in a $169.6 million refunding of three series of bonds issued from 2007 to 2009.

Legislation to fund Illinois' community college payments and student financial aid grants was delivered to Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk Tuesday.