Higher education bonds

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.

A recently approved policy change that extends the accreditation review period is a credit positive for the San Francisco Community College District, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

Proposals to require colleges and universities to meet standards in areas such as graduation rates and students' abilities to repay loans in order to issue tax-exempt bonds drew concerns from municipal bond and higher education professionals, who warned of increased reporting requirements for the schools.

The double-A rated University of Kentucky competitively prices $100 million of refunding bonds on Thursday.

A recent proposal to extend an accreditation review is a positive development for San Francisco Community College District, according to Fitch Ratings.

Moody's downgraded Glenville State College, W.Va.'s rating to Ba2 from Baa3 citing its exposure to $25 million in bank debt and other fiscal stresses.

Faced with rising rents around its Midtown Campus, the Houston Community College District is considering building a dormitory that more students could afford, officials said.

The University of Arkansas System plans to issue $41 million of revenue bonds for its Fayetteville and Fort Smith campuses.

CUNY's journalism grad school is launching a five-year effort to improve state and local fiscal reporting, thanks to a major gift from New York civic leader Richard Ravitch.

S&P revised the outlook on its AA and AA/A-1-plus ratings on Delaware County Authority college revenue bonds, issued for Haverford College, to negative.

After a national search Columbia College Chicago has hired Michelle Gates to serve as president for business affairs and chief financial officer.