University of Iowa President Sally Mason outlined her top priorities for the next six months during a meeting with reporters this week. The meeting Jan. 21 at Jessup Hall was one of her regularly scheduled media availabilities.

Mason’s priorities include:

• Enrollment growth
• Fundraising
• Launching the process to update the university’s strategic plan, and
• Taking the next steps in the TIER efficiency project

In outlining her priorities, Mason announced two new gifts to the university totaling more than $5 million. The gifts will support MBA students and a professorship in the Tippie College of Business, as well as the College of Engineering.  Both gifts came from donors outside Iowa, which Mason said is testament to the university’s reach. 

The campaign goal of $1.7 billion by December of 2016, is the most ambitious in the university’s and the state’s history. Donors have pledged $1.4 billion so far, and Mason says she will push as hard and fast as she can over the next six months to get even closer to the goal line.

The president also noted a rise in prospective student interest in the UI. Admits are up 9 percent, she said, and the Office of Admissions has energetically reached out to students across the state, including installing a full-time admissions counselor in Des Moines.

“That continues to be a strong indicator that we should have a good, healthy freshman class in the fall,” Mason said.

Mason's next media availability is Thursday, Feb. 19. The remaining dates (subject to change) are listed below. Each session is scheduled from 10 to 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Journalists are welcome to attend the on-the-record sessions and should RSVP to Jeneane Beck at jeneane-beck@uiowa.edu or Tom Moore at thomas-moore@uiowa.edu or 319-356-3945. Because space is limited, UI staff will videotape the discussion on a pool basis and provide unedited video files to media outlets.