...Standard & Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'A' long-term rating to Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees' series 2015B housing and auxiliary facilities system revenue bonds, issued for Southern Illinois University (SIU). At the same time, Standard & Poor's affirmed its 'A' long-term rating and underlying rating (SPUR) on SIU's outstanding debt, including its certificates of participation (COPs) housing and auxiliary facilities system (HAFS) revenue bonds, and medical facilities system (MFS) bonds. The outlook is stable. Our rating on SIU remains one notch above that of Illinois. SIU is the second-largest public university in the state, and offers a comprehensive array of programs. In addition, SIU has sufficiently demonstrated its capacity to operate as a fairly independent enterprise in a competitive market, while maintaining favorable reserves and operating surpluses despite delays and reduction in state appropriations. At this time, any fluctuation in the state rating will...
