Munis

Washington State University has been authorized to sell up to $16.25 million of revenue bonds for a new health clinic at its Spokane, Wash. campus.

Citing weak debt coverage, Standard & Poor's downgraded Arizona Health Network's revenue bonds to BBB from BBB-plus and retained a negative outlook.

After years of struggling to fill its halls, a student housing facility privately developed for Chicago's DePaul University is marking its second year of near full occupancy with the boost in revenues allowing it to chip away at some overdue debt service.

The trustee for $6 million of unrated bonds issued for Iowa Wesleyan College will ask a judge to allow it to enter a forbearance agreement with the school ahead of an expected technical default on debt service coverage ratios.

The Ohio State University, one of the largest schools in the country, is pondering the issuance of $150 million of century bonds, which would mark its second 100-year debt sale to date.

Standard & Poor's on Friday revised its outlook on University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics' AA rating to negative from stable over the potential strains of its big capital plans.

Problems with a bank loan led Fitch to become the second rating agency to act against Florida Gulf Coast University, placing its ratings on watch negative.

Kentucky State University's plan to disenroll 645 students for failing to pay will exacerbate stressed operations but could be credit positive, said Moody's.

Alvin Community College District in the outskirts of the Houston metro area saw its Moody's Investors Service Rating downgraded to Aa3 from Aa2 after years of operating deficits.

Texas A&M University regents have approved $115 million of bond funding for renovation of nine dormitories serving the military Corps of Cadets.

S&P lowered its underlying rating to A from A-plus on West Virginia University's bonds citing deteriorating financial ratios because of bond issuances in recent years.

The changing demographics of prospective students may present an opening for higher education institutions to attract more students and strengthen their revenue stream, according to analysts.

The terms of a loan turned the outlook on Florida Gulf Coast University's debt to negative, and could result in a rating downgrade of two notches, Standard & Poor's said.

This fall, Oregon voters will decide whether to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to start an endowment fund for student aid using general obligation bond proceeds.

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.