It’s being reported that Howard University has offered more than 600 current workers a voluntary retirement program in an effort to reduce long-term personnel costs and get ahead of financial woes affecting higher education in general. Those eligible have known internally since June 17, and Howard is hoping the one-time program will lead to recurring savings in addition to providing an additional payment option for workers to retire voluntarily. “Eligible workers must be full-time tenured faculty or benefits-eligible staff paid through the university’s operating budget, have at least 10 years of continuous service, and have a combined age and years of service totaling at least 70 as of June 30.