Campus Updates

Health and Safety Office

The College has established a Health and Safety Office, located in Room 217 of the Gerald Fisher Building. This office can be contacted at 501-760-4266 or health.office@np.edu. Staff will include a Health and Safety Program Manager. The Health and Safety Program Manager will serve as:

• Point of contact for anyone that tests positive for COVID-19.
• Point of contact for ADH/UAMS contact tracing partnerships.
• Point of contact for employees and students that have questions about COVID-19.
• Point of contact for anyone on campus that believes they may have been exposed to COVID-19.
• Liaison with all state/local agencies on the COVID-19 response for NPC.
• Lead for the review and update of the NPC Pandemic Plan and Emergency Management Plan.

Meetings

Although face coverings are no longer required on campus, face-to-face meetings should abide by all other NPC safety protocols.

Communications

Any updates will be sent via campus communications and the NPC website. All students, faculty, and staff should develop the habit of checking NPC email daily and sign up for our emergency notification system for phone & email notifications by visiting np.edu/RAVE.

Campus Events and Community Services

As of May 15, 2021 NPC will resume access to the campus by community groups and organizations for their meetings and events.  Please visit our Events and Registration system for more information. Additionally, the Library and computer labs will also be open to the general public as of this date.

Mental and Emotional Health

The College’s intervention specialist, Susan Millerd, will provide services and resource referrals to students and employees in need of mental and emotional support throughout the pandemic. Ms. Millerd can be reached at Susan.Millerd@np.edu or 501-760-4163.

Travel

There are currently no travel restrictions for NPC employees or students, however you should continue to take precautions outlined by the CDC to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

Athletic Travel: National Park College will follow NJCAA guidelines for sports travel. See the athletics section for further information.

Campus Gym Facilities

Beginning May 15, 2021, the gym facility will be open to the public Monday through Thursday, 8:00AM - 4:00PM.  Visitors are still encouraged to maintain social distancing and remain diligent in their efforts to clean equipment after each use.

Facial Coverings

Facial covering protocols are no longer mandated by the state of Arkansas and National Park College, however they are still recommended as a best practice in the effort to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19.

• Review the CDC guidelines for facial coverings here: Considerations for Wearing Cloth Face Coverings

Contact Tracing

When positive cases are reported to the NPC Health and Safety Office, the contact tracing protocol will be initiated. NPC will coordinate with the Arkansas Department of Health and the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Public Health to provide contact tracing services.

Instructional Plan Spring 2021

The College continues to implement strategies to mitigate risk in campus learning environments. New technologies to allow students flexibility are still being added. In the Spring 2021 term, some changes in the instructional plan are being implemented, which are discussed below. One key change is the addition of a new instructional method that is wholly reliant on Zoom technology. In this new Zoom classroom, students will attend class synchronously (meaning at the appointed meeting time) with their classmates and instructor just as if they were gathering on campus. Missing a class meeting will count as an absence. Pay close attention to the changes in the “Class Attendance Options” discussed below, especially as they impact attendance.

All students should be sure to complete their D2L Brightspace orientation and training, which is now part of new student orientation, as this will be a primary learning tool even in face-to-face classes. Students’ D2L shells for every class, including on-campus classes, will open on the Friday before the semester begins. Students should log in before the first day of class to see if there are additional instructions from their faculty before attending the first class.

Class Attendance Options

On-campus Classes: On-campus classes will change in the Spring semester. Students signing up for on-campus classes must be physically present during the assigned class time to be counted for attendance. The remote options that were available in the fall semester will no longer apply to these classes unless a student has been quarantined. At the time of a verified quarantine, the student can contact the professor about how to best complete coursework as would be done in any normal semester while suffering an illness. The faculty member may agree to allow the student to attend class remotely, but that decision will be dependent upon the situation, the type of course being taught, and the faculty member’s ability to accommodate the request. On-campus classes will continue to be limited in capacity due to Covid-19 restrictions. Missing a class meeting will count as an absence even if the faculty member is recording the session so that students can view it at a later time unless the faculty member has noted otherwise in the syllabus. At all times, the faculty member’s syllabus represents the primary guiding principles for managing classroom activity.

Blended Classes: Blended classes will continue as they have in the past; however, they may be reduced in size due to classroom capacity. Please follow the guidelines provided for by your professor.

Online Classes: As with blended classes, online instruction will continue as it has in the past. Follow the syllabus guidelines provided for by your professor.

**NEW Online (ZOOM) Classes: As noted in the introduction, the instruction of these classes is provided via Zoom. Students taking these Zoom-based courses must meet with their professor and classmates at the designated times for the class and must partake in each session. Missing a Zoom session will count as an absence even if the faculty member is recording the session so that students can view it at a later time unless the faculty member has noted otherwise in the syllabus. At all times, the faculty member’s syllabus represents the primary guiding principles for managing classroom activity. Students in Zoom courses should plan to attend and participate actively with their cameras on unless otherwise directed by their professor.

For any class sessions held on campus, attendance remains a critical element of contact tracing. Faculty members should work with their deans or chairs to assist with the development of appropriate attendance procedures.

Classroom Seating

Because the classrooms are arranged for physical distancing, only maintenance staff should rearrange classroom spaces. Faculty should maintain assigned seating for students that attend class in person. This action combined with attendance records will allow faculty to assist the Arkansas Department of Health and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences personnel in conducting contact tracing should someone in the class become infected.

Classroom Precautions

Students and faculty should practice safe behavior in the classrooms. This includes following CDC guidelines for washing hands and maintaining personal hygiene. Students and faculty are required to wear cloth facial coverings. Face shields will be available for faculty through the library, but they do not replace the need for a cloth facial covering. Faculty are encouraged to exchange documents with students in an electronic manner as much as possible.

Classrooms will be marked to identify adequate space for faculty to lecture and remain socially distanced from the students. Faculty can establish additional physical barriers in instructional spaces where needed. Faculty should coordinate these efforts with the maintenance staff. Faculty may require additional personal hygiene and sanitization measures on common contact points for the more interactive teaching environments, such as shops, simulation spaces, and science labs. Students should adhere to the directions of their faculty member regarding these additional safety precautions.

Classroom Sanitization and Cleaning

Instructional areas will be cleaned daily and sanitized regularly, including between classes. Hand sanitizing stations should be located at every building entry, and campus members should make a habit of using them upon entry. A spray bottle, microfiber cloths, and latex gloves will be provided in each classroom. In some cases, wipes will also be provided. Instructors will sanitize all high-contact surfaces (i.e., desks, chairs, light switches, doorknobs, keyboards) after their class and before the next class is allowed into the room. If no sanitizing supplies are available, the faculty member should contact Brad Hopper (501) 538-6260. Students and faculty should wait to enter their classroom until the instructor that previously occupied the classroom has finished sanitizing and gives the okay to enter.

Library

The library will remain open to students during the semester; however, capacity may be limited to ensure physical distancing protocols are followed. Please abide by the directions of the library staff. Library hours may be limited during the semester depending upon the guidance of the CDC and Arkansas health officials. The library’s online presence will remain available, and students are encouraged to contact library staff via the website and chat functions as needed.

Shift to Virtual Learning

All students and faculty should be prepared to move to a fully virtual mode of learning. Faculty will use technology to teach their courses remotely as every course is supplemented with a D2L classroom space. Students should make contingency plans to acquire appropriate Wi-Fi connectivity should the campus have to move fully online. Students will need a dependable Wi-Fi network and a computer with a working camera and microphone system. The College is working to secure computers with this technology to be available through the campus bookstore at a low cost. If they become available, the products will be eligible for purchase with financial aid.

If fully virtual operations become necessary, General Education courses will shift to an online format using the campus LMS and Zoom to encourage face-to-face meetings. Nursing, Health Science, Lab Science and Applied Technology programs will maintain some campus presence as deemed appropriate by the faculty and deans in those fields of study. Students can expect some content to be delivered online; however, they can also expect to return to campus with extra safety precautions to complete skill-based learning. These precautions may include limiting the number of students in an area at one time, expanded physical distancing, and requiring gloves. These stipulations will be communicated to students by their instructors. Programs with clinical requirements will collaborate with area hospitals and health providers to create a safe clinical experience.

Should the College close the physical campus due to an increased infection rate, accommodations will be made for classes with skills labs, science labs, and clinical instruction to allow for this instruction to continue in a more restricted setting or at a later date.

If the pandemic worsens through the spring semester, the College will consider establishing additional classroom protocols including entry/exit routes to limit the number of students in a hallway at one time, additional sanitation/cleaning protocols, and staggered or extended start times for classes.

Campus Services Availability

Service	Hours	Days	Contact
Academic Success Center	8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.	Monday through Friday in person, or by phone/email.	Lisa Walker lisa.walker@np.edu 501-760-4228
Campus Food Pantry	2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.	Wednesdays. More information is available in the FAQ section.	Dr. Chuck Burke wburk@np.edu 501-760-4348
Campus Nurse	8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.	Monday through Thursday in person, or by phone/email.	Sebrena Lewis sebrena.lewis@np.edu 501-760-4209
Career Services	8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.	Monday through Friday in person, or by phone/email.	careerservices@np.edu 501-760-4243 or 501-760-4246
Common Market Dining Services	10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.	Monday through Friday. Take out available. More information is available in the FAQ section.	Text orders to 479.685.4922
Computer Services	8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.	Monday through Friday by email only	techsupport@np.edu
Emergency Aid and Covid Relief Efforts	9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.	Monday through Friday by phone or email only.	covidsupport@np.edu (501) 760-4210
Emergency Aid and Covid Relief Efforts After Hours	3:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.	Monday through Friday by phone or email only. All day on weekends.	covidsupport@np.edu (501) 363-1219
Enrollment Services	8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.	Monday through Friday in person, or by phone/email.	Chris Afeld christina.afeld@np.edu 501-760-4159
Professional Mental Health Services	8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.	Monday through Friday in person, or by phone/email.	Susan Millerd susan.millerd@np.edu 501-760-4163
Testing Center	8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.	Monday through Friday in person, or by phone/email.	Josh Holiman josh.holiman@np.edu 501-760-4379

Student Services

Student Services staff (Admissions, Advising, Financial Aid, Health Services, Registrar, Disability Support, Career Services, Student Accounts, Testing, Tutoring, TRIO, Veteran Services) will be on campus and available to students during the spring semester and will be following all appropriate physical distancing and facial covering guidelines. However, students should consider contacting Student Services personnel in advance to set an appointment. And, as the College is recommending that personal interaction be limited, students should consider meeting virtually with advisors when possible. Student Services personnel will work with the students to collaborate in whatever virtual format is most comfortable to the student. Appointments can be made by visiting np.edu/advising or by calling 501-760-4159.

When documentation needs to be provided to Student Services personnel, it is recommended that it be sent as an email attachment. The College is working to limit the opportunities to spread the virus via shared documents.

New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation will be conducted virtually as well as via the campus Learning Management System (LMS), D2L Brightspace. All students can access orientation materials and other important information related to the pandemic crisis via D2L.

Recruitment Events and Student Activities

Recruitment events and student activities on campus will be limited or provided virtually. The Student Commons Gaming Room will remain closed until health officials deem it safe to reopen smaller shared spaces. Capacity will be limited in the larger shared spaces in the Student Commons Building (1st and 2nd floors, center) to ensure proper physical distancing is maintained.

Tutoring Services

Tutoring services will be provided in the Academic Success Center in person (by appointment), online, and via video communication. Appointments can be made by calling 501-760-4228. Online tutoring can be accessed via D2L.

Disability Services

Disability Services will be provided in-person on a limited basis. Preferably, students will work with the Coordinator virtually. Appointments can be made with Disability Support Services by visiting np.edu/advising.

Testing Services

Testing will be conducted on an appointment basis, for both Accuplacer testing and disability accommodation testing. Appointments can be made by emailing josh.holiman@np.edu.

Housing Information

Common Areas

• All guests, residents and staff will be required to wear cloth face coverings that completely cover the nose and mouth in any common area of the hall (study lounges, hallways, elevator, stairwells etc.) at all times.
• Due to COVID-19 precautions, we are suspending visitation and will re-evaluate as the situation evolves.
  • Once visitation resumes, all guests, per the res hall handbook, will need to be escorted and will have to wear cloth coverings until further notice.
• Plexi glass will be installed at the front desk.
• All open spaces will have regular cleaning, including all door handles, tables, chairs, etc.
• Study Lounges/Media Room
  • Media Room will remain open with a limited capacity of 15 students at any given time.
  • Residents must reserve times to use Study Rooms with a limitation of 6 residents at any given time in these spaces.
  • Disinfectants will be left in these spaces for resident to use.
• Public restrooms will not be open for non-staff use.
• Access to the hall will be restricted to authorized persons only.

Laundry Room

• No more than 2 residents will be allowed in the laundry room at the same time.
• Residents will be instructed to sort laundry before going to the laundry room.
• Residents will have to wait outside of the laundry room until their clothes are finished.
• Staff will wipe down surfaces during business hours.
• Residents will be encouraged to use gloves and/or to wipe down any surfaces they touch.

Mail/Packages

• Staff will wear appropriate PPE when sorting mail and placing packages in the package lockers.
• Locker areas will be disinfected throughout the day.

Kitchen

• Residents will be required to provide their own cooking utensils and return them to their rooms once finished.
• Residents are responsible for cleaning up after each use. Cleaning products will not be provided by staff for resident use.
• Staff will disinfect each business day.

In-person leasing/tours

• Prospects will have the option for a virtual hall tour.
• In person tours will need to be scheduled in advance.
• Prospects will be required to wear face coverings for in person tours.
• Prospects will have their temperature taken prior to tour.
• Prospects may be asked about any symptoms they are experiencing and any recent travel to hot spots.
• All surfaces and equipment that a prospect touches will be wiped down after each tour.

Social Norming

• COVID-19 best practices signage will be posted throughout the hall.
• Social distancing signage will be posted in the elevator and other high traffic areas.

Conduct Hearings / Resident Mediations

• All conduct hearings will be held in a Student Services conference room.
• Roommate mediations will be held in study rooms.

Hall Events/Programing

• Larger based hall events will be done virtually (trivia nights etc.).
• Smaller gatherings 4 – 10 persons will be conducted throughout the semester on a sign-up basis.
  • Attendees will have temperatures checked and be required to wear face coverings at smaller events.

Floor Meetings

• Virtual Hall meetings will be held monthly.

Maintenance/Work Order Requests

• Maintenance staff will wear appropriate PPE when responding to all service requests.
• Hang tags will be placed on the unit door once the service request was completed.

Quarantined Students

• A few 2-bedroom shared unit rooms will be held should a resident become infected and needs to be quarantined or isolated.
• Coordination between Dining, Housing & Student Services will take place to assist the quarantined/isolated resident (i.e., delivering meals, medical care, room trash removal etc.).
• The hall will have electrostatic backpack sprayer to treat the room after the quarantine is over.
• COVID Positives can be together in ISOLATION.
• Quarantined individuals cannot reside together.

For questions or more information, please contact the Dogwood Hall Community Manager at 501-760-4319.

Food Services

Chartwells Employees

• All staff will be screened with temperature checks and symptoms questions upon arrival to work.
• All staff will be required to wear appropriate facial coverings that completely covers nose and mouth at all times while in the building and on the clock.
• Gloves are required when handling all food and food utensils. This will include cashiers. We will have to break periodically to properly disinfect and sanitize the cashier stations especially during high traffic times.
• We will have daily communication on proper food handling, hand washing, and cleaning as governed by the Arkansas Health Department with rules pertaining to Retail Food Establishments.
• Any staff with symptoms (cough, fever, sore throat, or shortness of breath) will be sent home immediately.
• In the case of a positive test result by an employee, we will communicate with the NPC and Arkansas Health Department immediately.

Commons Market and Coffee Shop

• All physical distancing markers and signage are in place and will be strictly enforced.
• Facial coverings will be required to enter the Commons Market and Lovit Areas.
• Salad Bar will remain closed.
• All single use disposables (silverware, cups, straws, napkins) will be removed from public access and be provided upon request by the cashiers.
• We will disinfect and sanitize all contact areas in the commons and coffee areas multiple times daily.
• Mobile Ordering will be heavily encouraged to help reduce traffic and time in the Commons Area.
• Chartwells employees will be attempt to eliminate waiting in the Commons Area. Please be patient and follow employee guidance as new processes are put in place.

Dining Areas

• These areas are controlled by NPC staff and their guidance should be followed at all times.
• The Health Department is requiring tables be 6 feet apart from each other and occupancy is limited to 66% of capacity.
• Facial coverings are required while walking through the dining area but can be taken off once you are at your table to eat.
• Tables and chairs will be disinfected and sanitized after each use.

Questions regarding these food services requirements should be directed to the Director of Dining Services at 479-685-4922.

Social distancing

Social distancing should be encouraged at all times (six feet at a minimum).

Consider limiting staff to only essential personnel.

Consider the capacity of rooms/buildings and consider a reduction in this number.

Large social gatherings in any spaces should be discouraged.

Student housing, if applicable, should allow for individual sleeping rooms on and off campus.

Consider spacing in the cafeterias, classrooms, weight rooms, athletic training rooms/locker rooms, and other on-campus venues.

Virtual team meetings should take place when possible.

When at practice any unnecessary contact should be avoided such as handshakes, high fives, fist bumps, or elbow bumps. Following competition, teams will leave without shaking hands, but an acceptable alternative gesture while social distancing such as wave or non-contact high five is acceptable.

In all common areas, seating should be spaced six feet apart. Large social gatherings in any spaces should be discouraged.

Student athletes should sit every other seat on a bench and should avoid using a dugout when possible. They should consciously stand six feet apart when not participating in a drill or activity that requires closer contact.

Fans, staff, and other event attendees must wear face mask

Athletes should limit contact with spectators when possible.

Athletes will wear face mask when feasible

Sanitization

All equipment and locker rooms should be cleaned between each individual use.

Develop a schedule for increased, routine cleaning and disinfecting of athletic facilities and equipment.

Hand sanitizer should be made available throughout the facility for use before, during, and after workouts.

Pre-participation Exams

Pre-participation exams should be spaced out by teams and limit the number of people in a space to the practitioner and individual getting screened.

• This can be accomplished by limiting the number of teams that can be screened in one day and doing the screens by appointment time, so you do not have large groups congregating waiting for their turn.
• The following forms are available on NJCAA Connect:
1. Physical Examination Form
2. Physical Examination History Form
3. Preparticipation Clearance Form
4. Athlete with Special Needs Supplemental History Form

NJCAA Region 2 Back to Play Requirements

Daily/Competition Screening

Student athletes, coaches, and staff should be screened daily before practice/competition with no-touch temperature checks and a questionnaire.

A positive screen that would warrant further investigation would be a temperature greater than 100.42 For a "yes" response to any of these three questions:

1. Do you have new onset cough or shortness of breath?
2. Have you had a fever or had symptoms of a fever?
3. Have you had known exposure to a COVID-19-positive individual within 14 days?

A failed screen (temperature >100.4 or positive symptom that is not explained (cold, allergies, etc.).

10 minute acclimation period before re-temperature check to see if the environment is a factor.

Team Travel

Prior to travel for athletic competition, coaches, athletes, and other team personnel will be screened for illness.

The traveling team's official will screen traveling athletes before boarding transportation. Screening should take place inside a controlled environment to ensure temperature accuracy.

Athletes with symptoms related to illness will not be allowed to board transportation or travel to away competition. An athlete with a positive screen will be suspended from travel.

Screening and temperature check will be conducted upon arrival.

Copies of each team's screening will be available upon request

An athlete with a positive screen will be suspended from competition.

All visiting team will follow institutional rules for use of the Athletic Training Room

Traveling teams will be asked to abide by the policies in place of the host including what facilities are available and guidelines of use per specific facility at the time of competition.

• Contact host institution's athletic department prior to traveling for specific institutional policies or changes.

Game Management Personnel

Prior to travel game officials will conduct temperature checks. If a positive temperature of 100.42; a replacement official is warranted.

Game officials will be included in the onsite screening process at the host site. Any official who fails the on-site screening process will not be compensated for time and travel.

Region 2 will require host administrators to screen all game day management personnel; to include table crew; PA operator, gate keepers, security and other personnel.

Whistle with covers/bags/shields are preferred. Electronic whistles are permissible.

Some form of face mask or whistle covering must be utilized by officials. Any face/whistle cover must be unadorned and black in color.

Eye protection may be worn and must be shatterproof goggles or glasses.

Gloves may be worn and must be unadorned.

In/Post Game

All individuals necessary for competition should be classified into tiers, as described here. Tiers are based on the ability to wear face masks/face covering, the ability to practice social distancing of 6 feet or greater, and their respective role for the competition. All individuals should wear masks and physically distance whenever possible.

Tier 1- Individuals that it would not be possible to physically distance or wear masks effectively during athletic training or competition. This should only apply to athletes currently active in physical exercise, for example; during workouts, practice when active, and players on field/court during competition.

Tier 2- Individuals who come in contact with Tier 1 individuals but can reasonably maintain physical distance and use face coverings during the interaction. This includes student athletes, officials, coaches, medical staff, and operational staff. All Tier 2 individuals should wear face mask/face coverings and physically distance.

Tier 3- Individuals who provide event services but are not in the same vicinity of Tier 1 individuals. This includes housekeeping, catering, media. Tier 3 individuals should minimize contact with Tier 2 individuals and should always use physical distancing and utilize face masks/face coverings.

Spectators are not a part of Tiers 1, 2, or 3, and should observe local health official mandates. Spectators should be separated from Tiered individuals. Recommend a capacity reduction to ensure possibility of physical distancing by spectators, no more than 25% capacity of maximum facility seating.

When possible, limit all contact between teams. This to include any contact not required by that sport.

Teams will immediately exit the venue so game management personnel can begin the disinfection process.

All players and coaches must have their own water bottles or cups. Host team will be required to provide water. No disposable cups will be provided by host team.

Enter and Exit facilities utilizing designated doors only.

Teams should not shake hands after the game, instead a wave or non-contact gesture can be substituted.

Post Season Competition

Member colleges should adhere to all state and local regulations and guidelines regarding food service for concessions and hospitality rooms

Championship host should follow all safety protocol recommendations provided to NJCAA member colleges for regular-season competition.

Request a social distancing plan from the host prior to the start of the event, including fan ingress, fan egress, fan seating.

Required temperature checks for student-athletes, coaches, and game personnel prior to each entry into the venue.

Encourage social distancing and directional signage in venue

Contests

Current circumstances may not allow for all competition to be completed.

All efforts by both institutions should be made to re-schedule all Regional competition.

All post-season qualifications will be based on regional winning percentage.

Testing

Any athlete that fails a Covid-19 screen will be recommended to have a Covid-19 test or required to quarantine in accordance with CDC guidelines unless medically cleared by a physician, nurse practitioner or Physician's Assistant.

Any athlete that has been exposed through the contact tracing process who is currently not demonstrating COVID19 symptoms the 14-day quarantine is required.

It is highly recommended to have exposed athletes tested.

A Covid-19 positive athlete is required to isolate in accordance with CDC guidelines for a minimum 10 days.

If an athlete tests positive within 5 days from a contest, they must disclose that information to the opposing team within 24 hours of receiving the positive test.

The recommendations and requirements above apply to all region and non-region competition.

Questions regarding the athletic procedures should be directed to the NPC Athletic Director at 501-760-4374.

This statement acknowledges that National Park College has signed and returned the Recipient’s Funding Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students and that the institution has used, or intends to use the funds to provide the mandated amount of the emergency financial aid grants to students.

The total amount of funds that the institution has received under the HEERF student portion equals:

HEERF I (CARES) - $1,142,754

HEERF II (CRRSAA) - $1,142,754 (matching HEERF I student portion)

HEERF III (Pending 6/130/2021)

Of those funds, the total amount that has been distributed to students as of the date of reporting (6/30/2021) equals:

	HEERF I	HEERF II	TOTAL
FY 2020	$ 418,400.00	-	$ 418,400.00
FY 2021	$ 607,962.26	$ 927,350.00	$ 1,535,312.26
TOTAL	$ 1,026,362.26	$ 927,350.00	$ 1,953,712.26
Number of Students	1,177	1,650	2,827

The total number of students at the institution eligible to participate in programs under Section 494 of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and therefore eligible to receive an emergency financial aid grant at the time of the declaration of the national emergency March 13, 2020,was estimated at approximately 1500 students.

July 8th, 2020 there were 873 students refunded meal plan balances they were unable to use due to COVID. This disbursement totaled $116,391.71.

The institution determined which students did, or will receive emergency financial aid grants, and how much funding they did, or will receive in the following manner:

Spring 2020 Term: Most of our student body are Title IV eligible (85-90%), so a decision was made to award a flat amount ($400) to all eligible students in spring 2020 term.

Summer 2020 term: For students enrolled for summer, $400 was disbursed to 268 returning students from the spring term who had already certified that they had COVID-19 related expenses. Then 22 newly enrolled students for summer term certified that they had COVID-19 related expenses and were disbursed $400 for the summer term.

Fall 2020 term: New certification forms were completed by Title IV eligible and enrolled students. In August the first fall disbursements were distributed for $400 per student. Additional disbursements of $400 were awarded for the month of September. All students who had certified by September 25, 2020 received in total $800 for August and September combined.

Spring 2021 term: Remaining HEERF I (CARES) funds were disbursed for $250 per person who reported to the Health and Safety Program Manager and were either quarantined or isolated due to COVID-19. After these funds were diminished the NPC Foundation provided these funds raised through private donations.

HEERF II (CRRSAA)

Spring 2021 term:

The decision was made to pay block grants to students based on enrollment and additional funding based on the EFC on the FAFSA.

Enrollment Criteria for Amount of Disbursements:

• 1-3 hours $200
• 4-6 hours $300
• 7-9 hours $400
• 10-12 hours $500
• 13+ hours $600

Additional Funding Based on EFC on FAFSA:

• Add $100 for anyone with EFC 0-2700 on FAFSA
• Add $50 for anyone with EFC 2701-5711
• Add $0 for anyone with EFC over 5711

US Citizenship:

• DACA students still waiting on feedback from USDE, so was conservative and removed anyone who self- identified as non-US Citizen and wasn’t an eligible non-citizen for FAFSA purposes.
• Approximately 1650 students were paid $927,350 in first round of block grants from CRRSAA/HEERF II funding.

The following information was shared with students:

Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the emergency financial aid grants were disseminated to students via messages shared on the learning management system (D2L), email, and social media. An example of the instructions were as follows:

“National Park College cares about our students and their families and would like to help make sure your semester gets off to a successful start. Hopefully this disbursement of CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act funds will assist you financially so that you can concentrate more on your academic endeavors and have GREAT semester at NPC! If you have been affected financially by COVID-19, you need to fill out the form provided on this link below in order to receive CARES funds for the fall term. These funds do not have to be paid back. You do need to be currently enrolled for the fall term, be eligible for federal financial aid, and have had COVID-19 related expenses. The link to the certification form was provided to the students. Please contact us if we can be of an assistance at our Enrollment Services number 501-760-4159.”

Spring/Summer/Fall 2020 disbursements required the completion of a certification form which was emailed to students with instructions. Meal Plan Balance Refunds did not require a certification form and students were mailed checks with explanations included in the mailing. Any students who had questions were asked to please contact their financial aid advisor at 501-760-4159.

Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting under CARES Act

National Park College Date of Report: 01/13/2021, Covering Quarter Ending: 12/31/2020 Total Amount of Funds Awarded: Section (a)(1) - Institutional Portion $1,142,754, Section (a)(2) - $110,864 and Section (a)(3) - $0

NPC CARES Act Summary FY 21

	HEERF 18008	Institution 18009	Student 18010
Award	$314,700	$13,375,195	$6,554,007
FY 20 Expenditures	-	(60,374.48)	(418,400.00)
FY 21 Expenditures Through 12/31/2020	(22,499.96)	(589,511.72)	(717,339.10)
FY 21 Expenditures Through 06/30/2021	(44,531.44)	(2,169,551.33)	(933,114.87)
Available 06/30/21	$ 247,668.60	$10,559,757.47	$4,485,153.03

Students will be notified about additional disbursements of HEERF/CRRSAA (formerly CARES) funds as decisions are made how to best support and assist students who have been or are currently affected by the COVID 19 virus.  Watch your email, D2L and Campus Communications for further details in the future

The CDC has accurate and up-to-date information regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) if you are interested in reading more.

The Arkansas Department of Health has information regarding COVID-19 cases in the state.

The city of Hot Springs provides current data on vaccines, cases and testing locations.

UAMS has developed a free online screening tool for COVID – 19 for Arkansas residents.