Higher education bonds

Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore typify how the 'eds and meds' presence of universities and hospitals can boost older cities' credit profiles, said Moody's.

The long-running power struggle at the University of Texas that led to a legislative censure of UT Regent Wallace Hall is credit negative for the UT System, according to Moody's Investors Service.

Loyola University Chicago has hired Robert A. Munson to serve as chief financial officer, filling a position being vacated by the retirement of Bill Laird after 11 years.

With higher education issuance set to jump, analysts are pondering whether the higher yields on the credits are worth the risk.

Roger Williams University trustees have authorized negotiations to lease the former 38 Studios office for its own downtown Providence expansion.

Illinois' current fiscal strains pose a threat to the credits of state's public universities that rely heavily on state subsidies, Standard & Poor's warns in a new report.

Moody's Investors Service revised the Illinois Institute of Technology's outlook to stable, easing pressure on the rating that is at the lowest investment grade level.

California State University is planning to sell $744 million of revenue bonds this week to refund outstanding debt and provide funding for various campus projects across the state.

An independent accountant hired by the Long Beach Community College District in California has estimated that the district may have to pay about $1.73 million to settle with the Internal Revenue Service under the agency's voluntary closing agreement program, an issuer official said.

The Regents of the University of Minnesota will sell $141 million of general obligation bonds Thursday to finance construction of a new ambulatory care center.

Moody's Investors Service lowered the University of Chicago's rating one level to Aa2 as the school prepares to take on more debt to further its long-term strategic plans that will strain cash flow over the next several years.

After being thwarted in the 2013 legislative session, the University of Texas Board of Regents agreed to seek $1.9 billion of tuition revenue bonds in the 2015 session.

Laredo Community College plans to begin construction this fall on a health sciences center and other campus additions with proceeds from $100 million of general obligation bonds.

The Long Beach Community College District in California is seeking a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service because of a private-activity bond problem with bonds it issued in 2008.

The Illinois Finance Authority signed off on up to $700 million in new-money and refunding borrowing for the University of Chicago and a first time IFA approved borrowing by a college foundation to fund affordable student loan.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed a bill authorizing $376 million of bond-financed improvements at six University of North Carolina institutions.

Moody's dropped Alabama State University's $230 million of outstanding bonds three notches to junk citing an inability to cover debt service among the reasons.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Howard University to Baa3 from Baa1 on Thursday.

Standard & Poor's has shifted its outlook to negative on New Mexico State University's AA rating, citing three years of falling enrollment.

Raymond James is continuing its expansion on the West Coast with the recent addition of an education banker to its public finance group in San Francisco.