Great news from Moody’s

Dear Faculty and Staff,
 
I write to share the great news that Moody’s has affirmed the University of Redlands Baa2 rating and, even more impressively, has upgraded our outlook from “negative” to “stable.” This is a significant accomplishment, especially considering Moody’s recently downgraded the entire higher education sector to a negative outlook. This makes our upgrade even more meaningful and a testament to all of the work we have been doing.
 
Our upgraded outlook isn’t just symbolic; it has real and measurable benefits for the University. An improved credit outlook signals financial strength, stability, and reputation of the institution, which translates into lower borrowing costs and greater flexibility to invest in new opportunities. Ultimately, it enhances our ability to plan, invest, and grow in ways that directly benefit our students and the entire University community.
 
Moody’s recognized the bold steps we’ve taken, specifically our strategic acquisitions of Woodbury and Presidio, which have helped expand our enrollment and strengthen our financial foundation. They also highlighted the early success of our new procurement program, better known as The Juice, which is already generating cost savings.
 
A huge thank you to Grace Crickette, Vice President for Finance and Administration, and her outstanding team, who put in countless hours preparing for our meeting with Moody’s. During a detailed two-hour review session, we told our story, highlighting the passion of the Bulldog faculty and staff, the strength of our mission, and the advantages of our growth and enrollment strategies. Their efforts, and yours, have truly made an impact.
 
Moody’s will conduct another full review in 18 months, focusing on how we continue to manage our revenues and expenses. As we look ahead, staying thoughtful about how we use our resources and continuing to support enrollment and retention efforts will be key to building on this momentum.
 
This upgrade is a win we can all be proud of. It speaks to who we are…resilient, focused, and Relentlessly Redlands. Thank you for everything you do to move Redlands forward!

Sincerely,

Krista L. Newkirk
President