NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on November 29, 2023, beginning at 3:30 PM. Trustees present were Mike Bush, Joyce Craft, Jim Hale, Rhonda Harrington, Bev Joe, Lance Porter, Forrest Spicher, Renee Westfall and Raymond Wright.
Staff, faculty members, and guests present were Bill Allison, Blake Butler, Shanice Davis, Sarah Day, Wade Derden, Jessica Ellis, Kelli Embry, Jennifer Evans, Roger Fox, Katelynn Hardage, Terri Helms, Nicole Herndon, John Hogan, Brad Hopper, David Horning, Chris Hunt, Janice Ivers, Brian Kroening, Julie LaRue, Jennifer Lyons, Caysie Martin, Melony Martinez, Mark Oliver, Robin Pelton, Andrew Pennington, Scott Post, Bill Ritter, Janetta Ritter, Nathan Ritter, Uttar Shrestha, Luis Soto, Jerry Thomas, Darla Thurber, John Tucker, Debbie Ugbade, Lynn Valetutti, and Amy Watson.
The media was notified of the meeting. Lance Brownfield, McKenna Knott-DeBord, and Brandon Smith of The Sentinel Record were in attendance.
Chair Joyce Craft opened the meeting with a welcome at 3:30 PM.
Trustee Raymond Wright provided the invocation.
Sarah Day introduced the media guests present.
National Park College Associate Dean of Students & Registrar, Scott Post, introduced US Veteran Student, David Horning.
Dr. Bill Allison, Vice President for Workforce, introduced Apprenticeship/US Veteran Student, Chris Hunt.
Janice Ivers, Dean of Nursing & Health Sciences, introduced the November Student of the Month, Shanice Davis.
Business Division faculty member, Janetta Ritter, introduced the December Student of the Month, Luis Soto.
Items for Action
- Trustee Bush made a motion to approve the October 25, 2023, minutes as presented. Trustee Hale seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Wright made a motion to approve the October 25, 2023, executive session minutes as presented. Trustee Westfall seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Spicher made a motion to approve the September 2023 financial statements as presented by Andrew Pennington, Controller, during the Finance Committee Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
- National Park College Human Resources Director, Julie LaRue, presented the ratifications of personnel actions. Trustee Bush made a motion to approve the ratifications as presented. Trustee Porter seconded, and the motion passed unanimously
- National Park College Vice President for Academic Affairs, Jerry Thomas, presented
the proposed Faculty Senate Constitution revisions.
- Thomas explained that most changes involved changing the use of the title of Executive Vice President to the correct title of Vice President for Academic Affairs, as well as correcting pronouns throughout the document.
- Section 7, Removal and Recall; Sub-section A, Removal of a Senator, was updated with new language.
Trustee Porter made a motion to approve the Faculty Senate Constitution revisions as presented. Trustee Harrington seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- National Park College Vice President for Administration, Kelli Embry, introduced Trustee Hale to present the Transition Team Plan for approval. Hale noted that the plan outlines the goals and activities of the transition team, a proposed timeline for the presidential selection process, and a list of the transition team members selected by Chair Craft and Dr. Hogan. Trustee Hale made a motion to approve the Transition Team Plan as presented. Trustee Spicher seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- National Park College Vice President for Advancement, Dr. Wade Derden, and National
Park College Vice President for Information Technology, Blake Butler presented for
approval the proposed revision of Board Policy 8.500, Information Technology Acceptable
Use.
- Derden explained that the proposed revisions were intended to bring the policy into alignment with Act 504 from the last legislative session with wording collaborated with the Attorney General’s Office.
Trustee Westfall made a motion to approve the revision of Board Policy 8.500, Information Technology Acceptable Use, as presented. Trustee Joe seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Items for Report
- National Park College Associate Dean of Students & Registrar, Scott Post, provided a Veteran Services report. Post shared that there are currently 74 NPC Veterans using VA Education Benefits for Fall 2023.
- NPUC Transfer Coordinator, Katelynn Hardage, shared the National Park University Center Report. Hardage stated that NPC has twelve Arkansas University partners, with 75 transfer degrees offered. Ms. Hardage shared that in May 2023, the College had the first set of five bachelor's degree graduates from our partnership with Southern Arkansas University. Hardage highlighted the newest partnership with the University of Arkansas – Monticello with seven students enrolled in the Business bachelor’s degree program.
- Trustee Hale and National Park College Vice President for Student Affairs, Darla Thurber, presented the Presidential Search report, including information from the student and employee roundtable meetings conducted in November. Thurber stated that this information will help inform the creation of the presidential profile, and it will help equip the incoming president to build upon NPC’s strong work culture and mission of student success. VP Thurber said the Board had received a copy of the complete raw data gathered from the meetings, and noted that her report was a summary of emerging themes from the data. She reported that the campus indicated a need for an innovative leader with strong interpersonal and active listening skills, collaboration, and empathy; high integrity, a strong adherence to moral and ethical principles; prior experience in higher education; student-centered and highly engaged with the campus; a transparent communicator who is willing to understand the needs of the students and employees; experience with community outreach; and a strong commitment to the College’s mission of student success. Trustee Hale shared that the College will conduct a roundtable exercise for the community on December 14th at 1:30 p.m. at the Garland County Library. This event is open to anyone interested in attending. Thurber noted that information from the public roundtable would be provided to the Board in January.
- Board Chair Report - Chair Craft congratulated Veteran Affairs Coordinator, Kenita McKenzie, on her efforts to celebrate and support NPC’s veterans. Craft expressed appreciation for the continued priority of transfer opportunities for NPC students. Finally, Chair Craft thanked Trustee Hale for his leadership of the Presidential Search Committee, and her anticipation for ongoing reports of their activity as they endeavor to find the right leader to guide the college into the next fifty years.
- President's Report - President Hogan expressed gratitude to US Veteran students David Horning and Chris Hunt. Hogan thanked the Board for approving the IT Policy 8.500, stating the College’s obligation to keep policies aligned with changes in state code. Dr. Hogan thanked Dr. Bill Allison and Robin Pelton, Director of NPC’s Advance Manufacturing Technology Institute, for putting in the hours necessary to secure a $350,000 National Science Foundation grant to support NPC’s Training Industrial Technicians for Today and Tomorrow initiative. President Hogan emphasized the accomplishments of the NPC men’s and women’s basketball teams, congratulating the men on an undefeated season thus far. Hogan stated his appreciation of NPC faculty and staff for their continued efforts to perfect and expand student transfer opportunities. Dr. Hogan thanked the Board for approving the Transition Team Plan and expressed optimism about the process and excitement for what is ahead for NPC. President Hogan stated his gratitude to Trustee Hale and VP Kelli Embry for leading the effort and to VP Thurber for her thorough report that represents the voice of the NPC community.
There was no further business. Chair Craft asked the trustees for further comment.
Trustee Wright motioned to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:30 PM.
Joyce Craft, Chair
Beverly Joe, Secretary/Treasurer