NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in regular session on January 25, 2023, beginning at 3:31 PM. Trustees present were Mike Bush, Joyce Craft, Rhonda Harrington, Bev Joe, Lance Porter, Forrest Spicher, Renee Westfall, and Raymond Wright.
Staff, faculty members, and guests present were Bill Allison, Blake Butler, Gail Carmon, Chris Coble, Wade Derden, Jessie Ellis, Kelli Embry, Roger, Fox, Michelle Godwin, Katelyn Hardage, Nicole Herndon, John Hogan, Jill Houlihan, Brian Kroening, Julie LaRue, Tyanna Lindsey, Jennifer Lyons, Caysie Martin, Melony Martinez, Susan Millerd, Robin Pelton, Connie Poteet, Nathan Ritter, Jennifer Seward, Sandra Skillern, Lana Taliaferro, Jerry Thomas, Darla Thurber, John Tucker, Lynn Valetutti, Lisa Walker, Tim Webb, and Mike Wiles.
The media was notified of the meeting. Brandon Smith and Lance Porter of The Sentinel Record were in attendance.
Chair Joyce Craft opened the meeting with a welcome.
Trustee Spicher provided the invocation.
Items for Action
- Trustee Bush made a motion to approve the November 30, 2022, minutes as presented. Trustee Joe seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Spicher made a motion to approve the October and November 2022 financial statements as presented by Andrew Pennington, Controller, during the Finance Committee Meeting. Trustee Wright seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Julie LaRue, Director of Human Resources, presented the ratifications of personnel actions. Trustee Harrington made a motion to approve the ratifications as presented. Trustee Bush seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Items for Report
- Vice President for External Affairs and Chief of Staff Darla Thurber shared that National Park College’s (NPC) 50th-anniversary celebration has begun. Thurber stated that the External Affairs team would commemorate the history of the college by collecting a digital time capsule throughout the year which will be archived on the NPC YouTube account. The time capsule will include videos of alums, retirees, and community members whose lives have been impacted by NPC. The community was encouraged to contribute material to the time capsule at np.edu/50.
- Board Chair Report - Chair Craft congratulated the student of the month awardee and thanked Miss Lindsey for her remarks. Additionally, Chair Craft expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve as Chair of the NPC Board of Trustees. She also expressed how thrilled and honored she was to be a part of such an impactful partnership and to celebrate the 50th year of changing lives at NPC.
- President’s Report - President Hogan congratulated and thanked those who committed to serve on the NPC board of trustees. Dr. Hogan congratulated the student of the month, Ethan Ledesma, and thanked Tyanna Lindsey for her remarks. He also gave a summary overview of the State of the College, which will be published in early February 2023. The State of the College included updates on expanded opportunities for academic programs, secondary programs at National Park Technology Center, apprenticeship programs, continued improvement and expansion of associate degrees, technical certificates, and workforce programs. The State of the College also included continued investment and strategic energy toward growing online degree programs, course offerings, and further reaching NPC’s mission and energy. With his reflection on the state of the College, President Hogan emphasized that the College's drumbeat is the student’s voice. He reiterated that students know what they want and that NPC has the privilege of delivering on their behalf. He stated that the College, first and foremost, comprehensively fulfills the community college mission and continuously exceeds benchmarks in higher education.
There was no further business. Chair Craft motioned to adjourn, and Trustee Spicher seconded. The meeting adjourned at 4:30 PM.
Forrest Spicher, Chair
Beverly Joe, Secretary/Treasurer
