Higher education bonds

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.

Moody's Investor Services on June 5 upgraded the California Educational Facilities Authority Pooled College and University Projects 1999B pool rating to Baa1 with a positive outlook.

Austin Community College District is considering asking voters for $385 million of general obligation bond money for its growing chain of campuses.

Standard & Poor's has lowered its outlook to negative on Texas Lutheran University's BBB rating.

The University of North Texas System received $84 million in questionable state funds over a 10-year period, according to officials.

Moody's Investors Service revised its outlook on Illinois Wesleyan University's Baa1 rating to positive due to its improved operating performance.

A New York issuer has applied for relief under the Internal Revenue Service's voluntary closing agreement program so that tax-law violations relating to bonds issued for New York Medical College in 1998 can be settled.

Moody's Investors Service has downgrade Hastings College of the Law to A2 from A1.

The state of Oregon is planning to sell $68 million of tax-exempt and taxable bonds next week to finance capital projects at state universities.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Atlanta's Morehouse College two notches to Baa3, citing potentially insufficient cash flow for debt service, among other issues.

Moody's Investors Service upgraded the ratings on University of La Verne, Calif. a notch to Baa1 with a stable outlook affecting $88.4 million in debt.