The 'A+' rating on the District of Columbia's bonds, issued for Howard University, reflects: Substantial levels of federal support (53% of unrestricted 1998 revenues); Howard's role as the nation's premier comprehensive, private, minority institution; and A very noticeable strengthening in most areas of the university. Much of the recent improvement at Howard can be attributed to a management team that has successfully turned around what had been several negative trends. In 1996, the university's debt was downgraded to `A+' from 'AA-', but since that time the implementation of a university-wide plan by management has helped to improve enrollment and demand trends, restore the hospital to profitability after deep losses, merge 16 colleges into eleven, and grow its levels of federal
