NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on June 22, 2022, beginning at 3:30 PM. Trustees present were Mike Bush, Forrest Spicher, Lance Porter, Raymond Wright, Rhonda Harrington, and Jim Hale, and Bev Joe.
Staff and faculty members present were John Hogan, Michelle Godwin, Darla Thurber, Kelli Embry, Andrew Pennington, Bill Allison, Jerry Thomas, Julie LaRue, Jason Hudnell, Ellen Smith, Janice Ivers, Melony Martinez, Rose Milnes, Brad Hopper, Jessie Ellis, Nathan Poor, Jill Houlihan, Yolanda Cox, Jacquelyn Campos, Sean Langan, Scott Post, Connie Poteet, Lisa Hopper, Jennifer Lyons, Susan Millerd, Robin Pelton, Blake Butler, Steve Trusty, Nicole Herndon, Wade Derden, and Nathan Ritter.
The media was notified of the meeting. Brandon Smith and Lance Porter with Sentinel Record were in attendance.
Chair Forrest Spicher opened the meeting with a welcome and provided the invocation.
New employees and NJCAA All-Academic Honors student-athletes were introduced.
Items for Action
- Trustee Hale made a motion to approve the May 25, 2022, minutes as presented. Trustee Bush seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Wright made a motion to approve the April 2022 Financial Statements as presented by Kelli Embry, Vice President for Administration. Trustee Harrington seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Julie LaRue, Director of Human Resources, presented the ratifications of personnel actions. Trustee Bush made a motion to approve the ratifications as presented. Trustee Wright seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Hale made a motion to approve the President’s contract as discussed in executive session. Trustee Bush seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Items for Report
- Campus Health and Safety Report - Brad Hopper, Director of Physical Plant; Jessie Ellis, Health and Safety Manger; and Susan Millerd, Intervention Specialist and Title IX Coordinator; provided an update regarding campus health, safety, and security efforts. The team plans to update existing procedures for any areas that need to be amended. The College currently has Garland County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Navra on campus as the school resource officer and also contracts with Gardaworld Security Company to allow for 24-hour security services on campus. The College has a history of working with local law enforcement agencies and has communicated with Undersheriff Jason Lawrence from the Garland County Sheriff’s Office and Chief Chris Chapmond from the Hot Springs Police Department about assessment and training. Jessie Ellis reported that she is reconvening the Risk Management Task Force to help comprehensively assess the entire campus for risk and vulnerabilities. The team will work to adapt current plans and procedures to eliminate vulnerabilities and conduct exercises to test those plans. She said the team plans to begin with establishing crisis response teams on campus and strengthening the existing building captain program. Routine trainings for campus will also be a priority including CPR and first aid, automated external defibrillators (AED), mental health and Narcan. Additionally, targeted messaging will be provided to specific groups on campus including students, faculty and staff about what they need to do in case of emergencies. Susan Millerd shared that mental health has a significant impact on retention and student success and provides free counseling services to students and employees. The Center also connects the campus with community resources when appropriate. The work the NPC Counseling Center has done to remove the stigma around accessing mental health services has resulted in a greater number of students and employees utilizing them.
- Board Chair Report - Chair Spicher expressed gratitude to the campus for its efforts and noted that the steps the College takes to prioritize campus health, safety, and security are investments in the student experience. Doing so grows the quality of life both on campus and in the community.
- President’s Report - President Hogan welcomed new NPC employees and congratulated the All-Academic Honors student-athletes. He then thanked the Health, Safety, and Security team and stated that the safety and security of NPC students and employees is obviously a very serious matter. The College remains committed to providing safe learning and living environments, which is fundamental to the mission of student success. President Hogan also expressed appreciation to the Board and campus for welcoming him and his family to campus eight years ago and the support and leadership of the Board during this time.
There being no further business, Chair Spicher made a motion to adjourn, Trustee Wright seconded. The meeting adjourned at 4:07 PM.
Forrest Spicher, Chair
Joyce Craft, Secretary/Treasurer