NY -- Standard&Poor's CreditWire 12/17/97 -- Standard&Poor's today affirmed its single-'A'-plus rating on the District of Columbia's bonds, issued for Howard University. The outlook on the bonds is revised to stable from negative. The rating reflects substantial levels of federal support (64% of unrestricted education and general revenues) and Howard's role as the nation's premier comprehensive, private, minority institution. Since 1996, when Howard's debt was downgraded to single-`A'-plus from double-'A'-minus, a new management team has successfully implemented measures that have begun to improve enrollment and demand trends and cut losses at the hospital. In addition, Howard has been successful at maintaining its federal support. Howard is one of two federally chartered universities and has received ongoing
