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UM Curators Discuss Economy's Effect on University COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - The University of Missouri Board of Curators met Monday afternoon to discuss recent economic events and how they may affect the university system. KBIA's Amy DiFrancesco has more.


The Board of Curators met in Columbia, as well as by conference call, Monday afternoon. It agreed the UM system has suffered no major economic effects as a result of several major financial institutions being bought out. Fixed income consultant Don Estell, who participated in the meeting, says the system's financial situation should remain stable despite the economic downturn.

I don't see any impact on the university's credit capacity. You're one of the strongest public college, public universities in the country.

The university system did not have to take any drastic investment measures after last week's events.

UM Curator Marion Cairns says though the university system is not having any immediate problems, the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, or MOHELA, may have some difficulties in the future.

When MOHELA was founded, they were founded precisely because interest rates for student loans were so high and banks were not making them on these low interest rates, so we're kind of back where we started with MOHELA.

The board says they plan to keep a vigilant watch on the UM system's finances to make sure they are not hit by the national economic events.
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