NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on December 3, 2025, beginning at 3:30 PM. Trustees present were Mike Bush, Jim Hale, Rhonda Harrington, Bev Joe, Joel Newburn, Lance Porter, Forrest Spicher, Renee Westfall, and Raymond Wright. Trustee Westfall departed the meeting following the Items for Action, at approximately 3:48 PM.
Staff, faculty members, and guests present were Chuck Argo, Sheri Bailey, Blake Butler, Victoria Caraway, Sarah Day, Wade Derden, Hannah Edington, Jessica Ellis, Laekyn English, Kelli Embry, Kathy Flournoy, Terri Helms, Nicole Herndon, Mistie Hill, Brad Hopper, Janice Ivers, Rodney Ivers, Reagan Kanak, Richard King, Brian Kroening, Ginger Ladehoff, Hannah Lammers, Jennifer Lyons, Mark McCorkle, Scott Post, Kristin Quintanilla, Bill Ritter, Stephanie Rizzo, Rachel Stell, Sheryl Strother, Mary Ann Thomae, Rich Thompson, Darla Thurber, Juan Walton, Merecedes Ware, Tim Webb, Megan Wheeler and Jewel Williams.
The media was notified of the meeting. Brandon Smith with the Sentinel Record was in attendance.
Chair Jim Hale opened the meeting with a welcome at 3:30 PM.
Sarah Day took roll call. A quorum was present.
Reagan Kanak with the NPC Baptist Collegiate Ministry provided the invocation.
Sarah Day introduced Victoria Caraway, NPC Student Relations Coordinator, and Sheri Bailey, NPC Assistant Professor of English, who introduced the Student Spotlight attendees from the NPC Student Government Association: Laekyn English, Hannah Edington, Rachel Stell, Mercedes Ware, and Jewel Williams; Chair Hale introduced the Spotlight on Success speaker, Juan Walton.
Items for Action
- Trustee Bush motioned to approve the October 22, 2025, regular meeting minutes as presented. Trustee Spicher seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the October 2025 financial statements as presented by Megan Wheeler, NPC Controller, during the Finance Committee Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
- Megan Wheeler, NPC Controller, presented for consideration the FY2024 Legislative Audit. Trustee Harrington motioned to approve the FY2024 Legislative Audit as received in the mail from the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee. Trustee Joe seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the November Personnel Ratifications as presented by Kathy Flournoy, NPC Director of Human Resources. Trustee Wright seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Bush motioned to approve the Academic Program changes as presented by Dr. Chuck Argo. Trustee
Joe seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Program changes approved are as follows:
- Program Revisions:
- NEW PROGRAM: Pre-Engineering, AS: Pre-Engineering is designed to provide students with a strong academic foundation in mathematics, science, and introductory engineering principles. This program will prepare graduates for seamless transfer into accredited bachelor’s degree programs in various engineering disciplines.
- PROGRAM DEACTIVATIONS: As part of our ongoing efforts to simplify and streamline our academic offerings,
the College is moving away from the 2+2 transfer degrees in engineering. The Pre-Engineering
Program is a more simplified degree plan designed to provide students with a strong
foundation in mathematics, science, and engineering fundamentals to prepare them for
successful transfer into a four-year engineering degree program.
- Engineering, AS-STEM for Transfer to SAU BS in Engineering
- Engineering-Physics – Chemical Engineering, AS-STEM for transfer to SAU BS in Engineering-Physics – Chemical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering, AS-STEM for Transfer to ATU BS in Mechanical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering, ASA-STEM for Transfer to UA BS in Mechanical Engineering
- Program Revisions:
Items for Report
- Trustee Wright asked Brad Hopper, NPC Associate Vice President of Campus Operations, to provide the Building and Campus Development report. Hopper shared various updates on the Welding Facility project, as well as a summary of projects that the Maintenance and Grounds departments have been working on in preparation for cooler weather and the end of the year.
- NPC Foundation Executive Director, Nicole Herndon, provided the Foundation Report, highlighting elements of their FY26 Impact Report for the period of July – November 2025. Ms. Herndon also presented Foundation Christmas gifts to the trustees.
- Mark McCorkle, NPC Makerspace Coordinator, facilitated a Makerspace demonstration during which trustees created personalized coasters imprinted with their names and the NPC logo.
- President's Report – President Derden thanked Spotlight on Success speaker Juan Walton for emphasizing that education extends beyond coursework to stability, support, and the belief that all students deserve an opportunity to succeed. He recognized the NPC community’s efforts to support students during the holiday season, including the generosity of the NPC Foundation, the Helping Hawks food pantry, and the coordinated work of Student Life and Dining Services to provide an on-campus holiday experience for students unable to return home. President Derden also expressed appreciation to the Board of Trustees for participating in the afternoon’s professional development session and concluded by thanking Mark McCorkle and his team for hosting the meeting in the Makerspace.
There was no further business.
Trustee Bush motioned to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
Jim Hale, Chair
Raymond Wright, Secretary/Treasurer