By Jeff Murphy,
October 23, 2019

WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 For the third consecutive year, the 欧美视频
is being assigned an 鈥淎+鈥 long-term rating by Standard & Poor鈥檚 (S&P) Global Ratings
to the Missouri Health & Educational Facilities Authority鈥檚 series 2013C, 2018A and
2018B educational facilities revenue bonds. The rating reflects UCM鈥檚 dedication to
sound financial operations. Current and future financial pressures on the university,
however, are reflected in the S&P 鈥渙utlook鈥 rating.
鈥淲e assessed its (UCM鈥檚) financial profile as very strong, with consistently positive
operations on a cash basis, good available resources for the rating compared to operating
expenses and debt, and a reasonable debt burden. Combined, we believe these credit
factors lead to an indicative stand-alone profile of 鈥榓+鈥 and final rating of 鈥楢+鈥,鈥
S&P noted in its rationale for the ratings.
It added that the rating reflected the following: healthy available resources, with
adjusted unrestricted net assets (UNA) equal to 53.1 percent of adjusted operating
expenses and 124.8 percent of outstanding debt; historically sound financial operations,
with the university typically producing operating surpluses on a cash basis; and lack
of additional debt plans during the outlook period.
"To maintain an "A+" rating for a third consecutive year says a great deal about the
campus-wide commitment to good stewardship of our limited financial resources. While
we continue to focus on student success and academic excellence, it is vital that
the institution remains financially sustainable. This rating reflects this sustainability
as well as our ability to secure financing for potential future projects that will
benefit our students," said Bill Hawley, vice president for finance and administration
at UCM.
As of June 30, 2019, UCM鈥檚 total outstanding debt equals about $84.9 million. This
includes $64.1 million of revenue bonds for projects such as construction of the Crossing
鈥 South at Holden, UCM鈥檚 first student living-retail complex, and an $18.1 million
energy savings capital lease issued in April 2009 for deferred maintenance on the
main campus.
S&P Global ratings provide a forward-looking opinion about a borrower鈥檚 credit worthiness
and ability to repay debt using a letter-grade system. 鈥淎AA鈥 is the very best rating
that can be given for a borrower鈥檚 ability to repay long-term bonds. A long-term credit
issue rating of 鈥淎鈥 means that the organization being rated is more susceptible to
adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations
in higher rated categories, but the borrower鈥檚 ability to meet its financial commitments
is still strong.
Although S&P is giving the university positive ratings, it also looks to the future
taking into consideration the financial impact of factors on the university such as
a declining pool of Missouri high school students in which UCM must recruit in competition
against other colleges and universities. The pressure on enrollment, which has declined
since 2016, led to a 鈥渘egative鈥 outlook rating.