Agendas & Meetings

NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting

February 26, 2025

The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on February 26, 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.

Staff, faculty members, and guests present were Chuck Argo, Blake Butler, Denice Davis, Sarah Day, Wade Derden, Jessica Ellis, Kelli Embry, Robert Feighl, Kathy Flournoy, Roger Fox, Leane Hardin, Nicole Herndon, Brad Hopper, Lisa Hopper, Janice Ivers, Brian Kroening, Jennifer Lyons, Caysie Martin, Kat McCorkle, Mark McCorkle, Rose Milnes, Scott Post, Susy Rios, Bill Ritter, Larry Sanders, Rich Thompson, Bobby Thornton, Darla Thurber, Gary Troutman, Lynn Valetutti, Tim Webb, and Megan Wheeler.

The media was notified of the meeting. No media 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.

Reverend Bobby Thornton with Trinity Church provided the invocation.

Sarah Day introduced Denice Davis, NPC Foundation Board Chair; Gary Troutman, Great Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce President and CEO; and NPC Academic Affairs Dean of Instruction, Jennifer Lyons, who introduced NPC Cybersecurity Instructor, Robert Feighl. Feighl introduced Cybersecurity student, Susy Rios. Chair Hale introduced the inaugural Chair Spotlight speaker, Larry Sanders.

Items for Action

Trustee Bush motioned to approve the January 22, 2025, minutes as presented with Action Item “f” stricken. Trustee Spicher seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the December 2024 and January 2025 financial statements as presented by Megan Wheeler, NPC Controller, during the Finance Committee Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
Chair Hale presented the proposed 2025 Board of Trustee Standing Committee chairs and membership.
- Budget & Finance Committee:
  - Forrest Spicher – Chair
  - Rhonda Harrington
  - Joel Newburn
  - Lance Porter
  - Jim Hale
- Building & Campus Development Committee
  - Raymond Wright – Chair
  - Mike Bush
  - Bev Joe
  - Renee Westfall
  - Jim Hale

Trustee Westfall motioned to approve the committees as presented. Trustee Porter seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Chuck Argo, VP for Academic Affairs, presented the proposed Academic Program Changes consisting of program revisions, program deactivations, new programs, and new transfer programs. Questions were asked and answered. Trustee Wright motioned to approve the academic program changes as presented. Trustee Harrington seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Chair Hale recognized that there were no Personnel Ratifications pending action. No motion was made, and no vote was taken for approval.

Items for Report

Trustee Wright asked Brad Hopper, Associate VP of Campus Operations, to provide the Building and Campus Development report. Mr. Hopper provided a PowerPoint presentation showcasing the progress made thus far on the Redbud Hall project.
NPC Athletic Director/Baseball Coach, Rich Thompson, provided the Athletic Report. Thompson provided a PowerPoint presentation showcasing an update on the NPC Athletics Department.
President's Report - President Derden congratulated Rich Thompson on his 100^th win as Nighthawk’s baseball coach. Derden acknowledged the full schedule of NPC with the recently completed budget hearings, the commencement of evaluation season, and NPC's participation in the celebration of Arkansas Outdoor Recreation in the Capitol Rotunda. President Derden expressed his gratitude to Dr. Argo and his team for further developing the relationship with UAM to bring the new cybersecurity bachelor’s pathway forward. Dr. Derden stated that providing this cybersecurity degree at NPC will offer NPC students an affordable option in a workforce sector with increasing demand for qualified employees. Derden ended by recounting the many opportunities that NPC had in the month of February to engage with the local community.
New Business
- Chair Hale appointed Trustee Joe to an ad hoc committee of one to update the Board Bylaws in concert with President Derden and the Office of the President. Chair Hale anticipates that any amendments to the bylaws to be presented within two (2) months.
- Chair Hale stated that Trustee Wright would like the Building and Campus Development Committee to meet every other month at 3PM prior to the regularly scheduled Budget and Finance Committee meeting and Board of Trustees meeting, commencing with the next board meeting on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

There was no further business.

Trustee Bush jokingly questioned if there was an age limit for participation as a trustee.

Trustee Westfall motioned to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:20 PM.

Jim Hale, Chair
Raymond Wright, Secretary/Treasurer

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