NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on September 25, 2024, beginning at 3:30 PM. Trustees present were Joyce Craft, Jim Hale, Rhonda Harrington, Bev Joe, Lance Porter, Forrest Spicher, Renee Westfall, and Raymond Wright. Trustee Mike Bush arrived after the start of the meeting.
Staff, faculty members, and guests present were Chuck Argo, Brianna Burnell, Blake Butler, Joy Cantrell, Gail Carmon, Cristian Cisneros, Kaylee Cogburn, David Cooks, Autumn Cranton, Jennifer Cruz, Sarah Day, Wade Derden, Kaelyn Elder, Jessica Ellis, Nicole Ellis, Kelli Embry, Alex Essary, Kathy Flournoy, Nia Fontes, Roger Fox, James Frierson, Tusha Glapion, Genesis Godoys, Khristin Guardado, Nicole Herndon, Josh Hill, Brad Hopper, Lisa Hopper, Janice Ivers, Melissa Kennon, Brian Kroening, Aaleyiah Lomack, Jennifer Lyons, Caysie Martin, Melony Martinez, Gayla Mattoon, Rose Milnes, Scott Post, Keira Ray, Bill Ritter, Deirdre Shead, Tikima Simpkins, Victoria Staton, Jayden Story, Sheryl Strother, Mary Ann Thomae, Judy Throgmartin, Darla Thurber, Itzel Trinidad, Gary Troutman, John Tucker, Lynn Valetutti, Chloe Walker, Amy Watson, Tim Webb, Megan Wheeler, and Camryn Willis.
The media was notified of the meeting. Brandon Smith of The Sentinel Record was in attendance.
Chair Joyce Craft opened the meeting with a welcome at 3:30 PM.
Sarah Day took roll call. A quorum was present.
Trustee Forrest Spicher provided the invocation.
Sarah Day introduced the media and VP Darla Thurber, who introduced the NPC Student Government Association Officers, and Student Ambassadors.
Items for Action
- Trustee Wright motioned to approve the August 28, 2024, minutes as presented. Trustee Hale seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the July 2024 financial statements as presented by Kelli Embry, VP for Administration, during the Finance Committee Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Rhonda Harrington presented the Amended Board of Trustee Bylaws. Trustee Harrington motioned to approve the Amended Board of Trustees Bylaws as presented. Trustee Westfall seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Human Resources Director, Kathy Flournoy, presented the ratifications of personnel actions. Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the ratifications as presented. Trustee Wright seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Items for Report
- Trustee Raymond Wright, provided the Building and Campus Development report. Trustee Wright asked Associate Vice President of Campus Operations, Brad Hopper, to provide the report. Mr. Hopper provided a PowerPoint presentation displaying the progress made on the new Maintenance facility and Redbud Hall. He stated that they are very close to moving into the Maintenance shop. Security cameras are installed and they are waiting on the security system. Hopper anticipates that it will take some time to transition everything from the various temporary storage areas to the new shop. Mr. Hopper shared that the construction of Redbud Hall is on schedule. The first floor is framed with the 2nd floor decked and layout in process. They expect to start standing 2nd-floor walls this week. Hopper stated that the job supervisor is doing a good job scheduling materials to ensure they have what they need as they need it. He said lumber deliveries are happening twice a week; plumbers are onsite stubbing out onto the 2nd floor; Coakley has installed the new manhole; and McHenry has been onsite grouting storm drain boxes.
- Trustee Rhonda Harrington provided the Presidential Selection Policy Committee report. A copy of the suggested NEW NPC Policy 3.100 – Presidential Search Process was available for viewing. Trustee Harrington thanked VP Kelli Embry and Melony Martinez for their help with this new policy. Ms. Harrington stated that this policy will give general guidance to future boards when faced with the task of selecting a new president. Harrington shared that Trustee Jim Hale made a suggested change to the Policy Statement, second paragraph, second sentence to read, ”A Board Member will be appointed by the Board Chair to serve on the team.” Trustee Harrington ended by presenting the policy for public review to be followed by a vote for approval by the Board of Trustees. Discussion ensued and questions were answered.
- Darla Thurber, VP of Student Affairs, and Bill Ritter, VP of Workforce, provided the Fall 2024 Enrollment report.
- VP Thurber shared that the preliminary report was as of the 11th-day census count as compared to the same time last year. NPC’s total headcount (credit and concurrent) has an almost 8% increase year over year. Credit enrollment saw a 4.5% increase and semester credit hours had an over 6% increase. Concurrent enrollment realized an almost 16% increase year over year. Thurber expressed excitement over the increased student enrollment, stating that it is a testament to the value NPC provides and the demand for quality education in our community. She further emphasized that NPC is proud of the investment students are making in their futures, and that NPC is committed to empowering them to reach their full potential.
- VP Bill Ritter shared that his report would cover the period from July 1, 2024, to September 20, 2024, as compared to the same timeframe last year. During this time, NPC Workforce Division non-credit programs realized an increase of 38%. Adult Education served 554 students since July 1, compared to approximately 444 in the same period last year. This is an increase of about 25%. Ritter noted the 2023-24 academic year was strong for Adult Education, serving 1150 students, an increase of 21% over the previous year. The NPC Career Academy saw a decrease in enrollment with 373 students compared to 411 last year. Ritter explained that after seeing a 14% increase in enrollment last year, the Career Academy staff decided to evaluate program capacities to ensure faculty could safely and effectively teach in hands-on environments. The team determined the ideal enrollment capacity for the Career Academy to be 375. Community and Corporate Training had a total headcount increase of 4% with a slight decrease in contact hours, a gap that he believes will be closed as some of the reoccurring, longer trainings are scheduled this year. Makerspace had an increase of 460% which can be attributed to more community members utilizing the space, as well as the relationships Director Mark McCorkle is developing on campus.
- Board Chair Report - Chair Craft expressed her pleasure at meeting the Student Government Association officers and Student Ambassadors. Craft stated that she was excited to see the progress made on both Redbud Hall and the new Maintenance facility. Ms. Craft thanked Trustee Harrington for her leadership of the Presidential Search Policy Committee, stating she looks forward to having a sound policy in place for the benefit of future trustees. Chair Craft finished by thanking both VPs Thurber and Ritter for their enrollment reports.
- President's Report - President Derden expressed his excitement regarding the enrollment growth and his commitment to making sure students from all walks of life feel welcome on campus. He explained the 18-24-year-old population has been increasing consistently over the last decade, but this year the College was seeing more growth in the nontraditional, noncredit, and workforce student populations. He said this is important to note because we want to make sure the community is aware of all the training opportunities available at NPC. We also want nontraditional students to know they are welcome at NPC. We want to help them meet their educational and training goals. Whether it is a hands-on trade, a short-term certification, or a transfer degree, whatever it is they are hoping to pursue, there’s a place for them at NPC. Derden explained that the normally scheduled conversation surrounding High Priority Objectives (HPOs) would be delayed in order to move them to an annual reporting schedule of January – December. The new HPOs will be introduced at the January 2025 board meeting. President Derden congratulated Melissa Kennon, NPC Marketing & PR Content Developer, for her recognition as the 2024 District 4 Rising Star of the Year by the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR). He further explained that the NPC Marketing team has been nominated for awards in eight other categories by NCMPR. Dr. Derden congratulated Dr. Chuck Burke for being named the Arkansas Respiratory Therapist of the Year. Derden concluded by sharing a PowerPoint presentation of highlights from his recent trip to Japan as a representative of the Hot Springs/Hanamaki Sister City alliance.
There was no further business.
Trustee Westfall motioned to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:22 PM.
Joyce Craft, Chair
Beverly Joe, Secretary/Treasurer