NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Special Called Meeting
July 24, 2019
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in special session July 24, 2019, in the Fisher Board Room. Trustees present were Mike Bush, Joyce Craft, Gail Ezelle, Bev Joe, Forrest Spicher, and Raymond Wright.
Staff and faculty members present were Janet Brewer, Blake Butler, Yolanda Cox, Sarah Day, Wade Derden, Cari Elliott, Kelli Embry, Susan Gaither, Bruce Hankins, Nicole Herndon, John Hogan, Lisa Hopper, Jill Houlihan, Toni Knupps, Brian Kroening, Donna Nevill, Marilyn Ridge, Melony Ritter, Sheryl Strother, Jerry Thomas, Darla Thurber, Steve Trusty, Lynn Valetutti, Amy Watson, Mike Wiles, and Mary Kay Wurm.
Forrest Spicher presented the invocation. Representative Bruce Cozart was recognized as a guest.
The media was notified of the meeting. Emily Baccum from the Sentinel Record was present.
Items for Action
- Darla Thurber, Vice President for External Affairs, presented a resolution to name
the College’s first residence hall. NPC is responding to the student need for safe,
affordable housing options by constructing a 49,625 square foot, 180-bed on-campus
housing facility. The College is making a strategic investment to keep more young
people in the area and also attract a new market of students, both of which will provide
economic benefits for our community. The residence hall is scheduled to open in the
fall of 2020 and promotion will begin August 2019.
A Residence Hall Naming Team was assembled to research and present possible names for the residence hall to administration. The team worked through several themes, most of which related to the natural beauty of our campus, region, and state. The team elected to suggest names of trees found in Arkansas because trees represent strength, growth, and transformation, all qualities of an NPC student as well as our campus. For many, the Dogwood symbolizes loyalty, safety, and determination and is associated with new beginnings and renewal. National Park College Board of Trustees Policy 8.600, entitled Naming of College Facilities, states the Board of Trustees of National Park College is the final authority in naming college campus facilities.
Mike Bush made a motion to approve Dogwood Hall as the name of the first residence hall constructed at NPC. Gail Ezelle seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Dr. Hogan thanked the Residence Hall Naming Team for their time and thoughtfulness in selecting the name of NPC’s first residence hall. He invited those in attendance to the Dogwood Hall groundbreaking ceremony and reception, immediately following the Board meeting.
He announced that there will be a special called Board meeting on Wednesday, August 7, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. to approve the bond purchasing agreement for the residence hall.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:26 a.m.
Forrest Spicher, Chair
Joyce Craft, Secretary/Treasurer