Press Releases
The latest press releases from SURS. For press inquiries, click here.
1099-R Tax Forms Available Online
1099-R Tax Forms Are Now Available Online SURS has completed its paper mailing of the 2023 IRS Form 1099-R to each member or beneficiary who received a distribution in 2022. Members may log in to the SURS secure Member Website and print a copy if needed. The 1099-R...
SURS Hires DB General Consultant, Adds $100 Million in Real Assets, Certifies FY 2024 State Contribution
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees on Dec. 9 voted to hire Meketa Investment Group as a general investment consultant for the System’s defined benefit plan for a five-year term, subject to successful contract...
SURS Announces Active-Member Trustee Appointment
State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Vice-Chairperson Collin Van Meter, on behalf of SURS elected board members, today announced the appointment of Antonio Vasquez as an active-member trustee to the SURS Board of Trustees. Vasquez was selected by a majority...
SURS Approves Preliminary FY 2024 State Contribution, Allocates Millions to Real Assets and Private Equity
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees on Oct. 20 certified the System’s preliminary state contribution for fiscal year 2024 at $2,129,109,000, an increase of $10,542,000 from FY 2023. The state’s contribution to the...
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 elected active-member seat will be filled by a majority vote of the other five elected trustees. SURS active members who are...
SURS Hires Two Emerging Markets Equity Managers
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System Board of Trustees on Sept. 16 voted to retain Nipun Capital and William Blair for Emerging Market Equity mandates with a 50/50 allocation of assets between the two managers, subject to successful completion of...
SURS Restructured Portfolio Provides Defense Against FY 2022 Market Volatility
The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) today announced its investment portfolio returned -1.4%, net of fees, for fiscal year 2022, significantly outpacing the policy benchmark return of - 4.9%. When compared to a universe of other large public funds, the SURS...
SURS Commits $225 Million to Real Assets Portfolio, Retains Long-Volatility/Tail Risk Manager, Reelects Board Officers
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System Board of Trustees on June 3 added to the System’s real assets investments by committing $225 million to Clarion Lion Properties Fund, subject to successful contract negotiations. This is a new fund commitment...
SURS Commits $200 Million to Real Assets Portfolio, Approves Long Volatility/Tail Risk Managers
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System Board of Trustees on April 21 added to the System’s real assets investments by committing $100 million to the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund (GIF), $50 million to Crow Holdings Realty Partners X and $50 million...
Governor Proposes Supplemental Pension Payment to Reduce Long-Term Liabilities, Renews Promise to Protect Retiree Benefits
Champaign, IL - Gov. Pritzker on Wednesday introduced his fiscal year 2023 budget that includes the full certified state contribution to the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) of $2,118,567,000. To reduce the unfunded liabilities of the five state-funded...
IBHE Recommends Funding Increases to Improve Equity
The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the board that oversees the needs and guides the policies of the State Universities Retirement System’s (SURS) 61 employers, on Monday approved a 7% increase to their FY 23 budget to further fund their equity-driven...
SURS Board Certifies FY 2023 State Contribution and Effective Rate of Interest, Retains Securities Lender
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees on Dec. 3 certified the System’s fiscal year 2023 state contribution at $2,118,567,000, an increase of $17,288,000 from FY 2022. Each year, an independent actuary retained by SURS...
SURS Board of Trustees Appoints New Director
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees has named Interim Executive Director and Chief Benefits Officer Suzanne Mayer as the new executive director of the state pension fund. SURS oversees $28.1 billion in defined benefit...
SURS Board Approves $150 Million in Real Asset Commitments
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees on Sept. 10 voted to commit $100 million to Pantheon Global Infrastructure Fund IV and $50 million to Blackstone Real Estate Partners Asia Fund III, subject to successful contract...
SURS Lowers Assumed Rate to 6.5%, Assigns Millions to Real Assets Funds, Hires Executive Search Firm
Champaign, IL – The State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees on June 4 voted to decrease their long-term investment return assumption rate from 6.75% to 6.5%, effective June 30. The rate was last reduced in June 2018 from 7.25% to 6.75%. The...