NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
May 26, 2021
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on May 26, 2021. The regular meeting began at 3:30 p.m in Room 122 of the Student Commons building on the National Park College campus. Trustees present in-person were Larry Bailey, Gail Ezelle, Jim Hale, Joyce Craft, Forrest Spicher, Raymond Wright, and Mike Bush.
Staff and faculty members present in-person and virtually were Nathan Ritter, Dorothy Norris, Sara Caldwell, Diane Meredith, James Montgomery, Ashley Clayborn, Cari Elliott, Melony Martinez, Lisa Hopper, Darlene Gentles, Debra Wilson, Katherine McCorkle, Brad Hopper, Darla Thurber, Jill Houlihan. Brian Kroening, Nicole Herndon, Latisa Beason, Miles Morton, Blake Butler, Jennifer Lyons, Wade Derden, Sheryl Strother, Jessica Ellis, Stacey Armstrong, Jaymes Doss, Jason Hudnell, Kevin Tello, Richard Thompson, Bruce Hankins, Sheryl Strother, Melissa Krafft, Robin Pelton, Kelli Embry, Bill Allison, Dr. Gwendolyn Carter, Steve Trusty, Julie Larue, Sharon Sinclair, Amy Fincham, Toni Knupps, Janice Ivers, Lynn Valetutti, Susan Millerd, Jerry Thomas, Te'Airra Blanchard, Matthias Elder, Terri Helms, Roger Fox, Eric Boardway, John Tucker, Bill Ritter, Amy Watson, Samantha Christian, Yolanda Cox, Scott Post, Michael Barnes, Mike Wiles, Chris Coble, and Susan Gaither-Maddox.
The media was notified of the meeting. John Anderson from the Sentinel Record was present.
Chair Forrest Spicher welcomed everyone to the May National Park College Board of Trustees meeting.
Trustee Raymond Wright presented the invocation.
Items for Action
- Trustee Mike Bush made a motion to approve the April 28, 2021 Meeting Joyce Craft seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Larry Bailey moved to accept the financial reports presented in the committee meeting by Bruce Hankins, Chief Financial Raymond Wright seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Kelli Embry, Vice President of Administration, presented Resolution 2021-C, regarding Student Tuition and Fee structure, for approval. Embry explained that the in-district, out-of-district, out-of-state, and international tuition rates would remain flat. However, a small portion of the existing student registration fee will be reallocated to a student activities fee. Trustee Jim Hale made a motion to approve the Tuition and Fees structure. Raymond Wright seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Kelli Embry presented Resolution 2021-B, regarding the adoption of the NPC FY 2022 Budget, for approval. Embry expressed gratitude for the staff who served as budget managers throughout this process. Embry described how the budget was developed based on several premises, including student tuition remaining flat and investments in academic enterprise over the next three years. Jim Hale made a motion to approve the FY 2022 Budget. Trustee Mike Bush seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Wade Derden, Vice President of Academic Affairs, presented revisions to Policy 5.710, regarding Intellectual Property, for approval. Revisions included changes to the scope of the policy to apply to all College employees, procedures when the College enters separate written agreements regarding intellectual property, and the purpose to reflect the College's mission of learning and student success. Jim Hale made a motion to approve revisions to Policy 5.710 as presented. Trustee Joyce Craft seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Julie LaRue, Director of Human Resources, presented the ratifications of personnel actions as presented in the packet. Mike Bush made a motion to approve the ratifications as presented. Raymond Wright seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Items for Report
- Chair Forrest Spicher discussed the responsibilities of Trustees, including governance and community Spicher emphasized the importance of positioning the College to meet the needs of our community.
- Wade Derden reported on the outcomes of the 2021 commencement ceremony and graduation data. He expressed gratitude for the staff who volunteered their time to planning and realizing the ceremony.
- President John Hogan discussed the College's success in listening to our students and meeting their needs, as exemplified by commencement. Hogan described how the budget process gets stronger every year and expressed his gratitude to those who He concluded with optimistic remarks about the fall term, including on-campus housing at total capacity and requests for industry partnerships in the community.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:25 m.
Forrest Spicher, Chair
Joyce Craft, Secretary/Treasurer