Press Releases
The latest press releases from SURS. For press inquiries, click here.
SURS Certifies FY 27 State Contribution, Invests in Optimized Trend Solution, Approves Effective Rate of Interest
The trustees of the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) met on Dec. 4 and 5. On Dec. 5, 2025, the board approved SURS fiscal year 2027 certified state contribution of $2,366,144,000. Each year, an independent actuary retained by SURS evaluates the System and...
SURS Approves Private Equity Investment, CRO Commitment, Approves Preliminary FY27 State Contribution
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System’s Board of Trustees voted on October 23 to commit $150 million dollars to Fairview Lincoln Fund 1 Series D, subject to successful completion of contract negotiations, based upon the recommendations from...
SURS Board Approves Investment Policies
Champaign, IL – At the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees meetings on September 11 and 12, the FY2026 Investment Plan was presented. Edits and updates to the Defined Benefit Investment Policy and the Investment Procurement Policy were also...
SURS Board Approves Finalists in Fixed Income Public Credit Manager Searches
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees, during their meetings in Chicago, IL, June 5 and 6, approved finalists in Fixed Income Public Credit Manager Searches. Based upon the recommendation from SURS Staff and Meketa, the...
Governor Pritzker Appoints New Trustee to SURS Board
Governor Pritzker has appointed Jeanine Jiganti to the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees. She will serve out the remainder of a six-year term that will expire in 2030. Jeanine Jiganti is an executive with extensive experience in legal,...
Benefit Choice Period for Health Insurance Changes is May 1 – June 2, 2025
The FY 2026 Benefit Choice Period to make health insurance changes is May 1 through June 2, 2025. This affects SURS active members as well as annuitants and survivors not enrolled in the Medicare Advantage Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL) Program. This is the...
SURS Board Approves Updating Strategic Asset Allocation Targets
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees, during their meetings March 6 and 7, approved adjustments to asset allocation targets. This approval also gives SURS staff the discretion to implement the updated policy targets by...
SURS invests in equity extension strategies, certifies FY 26 state contribution, increases effective rate of interest
The trustees of the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) on Dec. 7 approved retaining J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPM) and Man Numeric to manage 130/30 equity extension mandates for US and non-US portfolios, respectively, pending successful contract...
SURS approves $50 million in real assets, returns net 8.3% in fiscal 2024, approves preliminary FY 26 state contribution
The State Universities Retirement System’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Oct. 24 to commit the lesser of $50 million or 10% of total fund commitments to Belay Ventures Fund IV, subject to successful contract negotiations. This is a new relationship for SURS...
SURS Makes Infrastructure Commitment
The State Universities Retirement System’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Sept. 13 to commit up to $100 million to the Pantheon Global Infrastructure Core Plus Fund V, subject to successful contract negotiations. SURS currently has a $57 million investment in...
SURS Chair Lyons Reappointed
Gov. Pritzker has reappointed John Lyons to the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees. He will serve a six-year term. Lyons has served as an appointed trustee since 2019 and has been chair since 2023. He previously was elected to serve as board...
SURS Announces Active-Member Trustee Appointment
The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Vice-Chairperson Collin Van Meter, on behalf of SURS elected board members, today announced the appointment of Herbert Pitman as an active-member trustee to the SURS Board of Trustees. Pitman was selected by a majority...
SURS Announces Active-Member Board Vacancy
State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Executive Director Suzanne Mayer today announced a vacancy on the SURS Board of Trustees. The three-year, elected active-member seat will be filled by a majority vote of the other elected trustees who will hold seats as of...
SURS Members Reelect Trustees
Current State Universities Retirement System (SURS) board members Steven Rock, Collin Van Meter and Antonio Vasquez have been reelected by the System’s members. The trustee election was conducted April 2 – May 1 by YesElections, an impartial election services company,...
SURS Board Approves Auto-escalation for Deferred Compensation Plan, Commits Millions to Real Assets
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees on March 1 voted to implement automatic contribution escalation for the System’s Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) participants effective July 1, 2024. DCP participants who are...