University of Iowa President Sally Mason held a press availability Thursday in which she discussed the early retirement program and students being admitted into the UI.

During the meeting, Mason said 1,400 people were eligible for early retirement. Of those 1,400, 362 people applied, and 197 were approved for early retirement.

The UI will save $28 million over the course of five years because of the early retirement program. That includes $16 million being saved from the general education fund.

“I applaud the artful thinking that went into putting the program together,” Mason said.

Additionally, she said, enrollment has been a top priority for the UI. Currently, applications, admissions, and students who have committed to the UI have all increased since last year. 

The number of applications the UI has received is up 7.3 percent, and the number of admitted students is up 8.9 percent.

Residents of Iowa who have accepted their admission is also up by 13.5 percent, while non-resident/international students who have accepted their admission is up 15 percent, giving the UI an average of 14.2 percent more students than last year who have accepted their admission.

Last year, 3,327 students accepted their admissions. This year, that number has grown to 3,798.

Mason said the numbers for Honors-eligible students have also gone up.

“It’s good to know that the quality of our programs continue to attract high quality students,” she said. “We are thrilled. I am thrilled by the progress we are making here.”