Agendas & Meetings

NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting

October 22, 2025

The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on April 30, 2025, beginning at 3:26 PM. Trustees present were Mike Bush, Jim Hale, Rhonda Harrington, Bev Joe, Joel Newburn, Lance Porter, Forrest Spicher, and Raymond Wright.

The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on October 22, 2025, beginning at 3:29 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 Liyan Abumuhsen, Chuck Argo, Bailey Bell, Sheena Burrow, Victoria Caraway, Jim Castaldi, Jason Chism, Sarah Day, Wade Derden, Jessica Ellis, Kelli Embry, Kathy Flournoy, Leane Hardin, Nicole Herndon, Lisa Hopper, LeeAn Jackson, Brian Kroening, Jennifer Lyons, Caysie Martin, Mark McCorkle, Rose Milnes, Rev. Tad Moore, Scott Post, Emily Pyland, Stephanie Rizzo, Anna Thompson, Rich Thompson, Darla Thurber, Atticus Webb, and Megan Wheeler.

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 3:29 PM.

Sarah Day took roll call. A quorum was present.

Reverend Tad Moore with Hot Springs Baptist Church provided the invocation.

Sarah Day introduced Jason Chism, NPC Assistant Professor of English, Arts & Humanities, who introduced the Student Spotlight attendees from the NPC Honors Program, Liyan Abumuhsen, Bailey Bell, LeeAn Jackson, Anna Thompson, and Atticus Webb; Chair Hale introduced the Spotlight on Success speaker, Jim Castaldi.

Items for Action

1. Trustee Bush motioned to approve the September 24, 2025, regular meeting minutes as presented. Trustee Joe seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
2. Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the August & September 2025 financial statements as presented by Megan Wheeler, NPC Controller, during the Finance Committee Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
3. Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the September Personnel Ratifications as presented by Kathy Flournoy, NPC Director of Human Resources. Trustee Bush seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
4. Trustee Harrington motioned to approve the Academic Program changes as presented by Dr. Chuck Argo. Trustee Wright seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Program changes approved are as follows:
   • Program Revisions:
     1. Registered Nursing, AS: The Associate of Science in Registered Nursing will be reduced from 66 to 65 credit hours. The Nursing Process IV course will be deactivated, with its content integrated into Nursing Process I and Nursing Process II. This revision strengthens the curriculum by ensuring that students apply mental health concepts across all clinical settings, preparing them to address both psychological and physical needs.
     2. Registered Nursing, AS – LPN to RN: The Associate of Science in Registered Nursing, LPN to RN, will be reduced from 62 to 60 credit hours. The Nursing Process IV course will be deactivated, with its content integrated throughout the curriculum. This change reduces the program by 2 credit hours for LPN-to-RN students. This revision strengthens the curriculum by ensuring that students apply mental health concepts across all clinical settings, preparing them to address both psychological and physical needs.

• Multiple Associate Degrees: We propose adding ORT 1211 First Year Experience to several degree plans beyond the Certificate level (TCs and CPs). In most programs, this addition increases the total program hours by one credit.
  At the same time, ORT 1202 College Seminar will be removed from four programs. With the inclusion of ORT 1211 First Year Experience course, along with one elective credit, the total program hours will remain at 60.
  The purpose of this change is to strengthen campus-wide retention efforts by providing consistent, structured support for first-year students.

• Program Modifications – ORT 1211 First Year Experience
  • See Board Packet, October 22, 2025, for a complete listing of modifications.

 Items for Report

1. Trustee Wright asked Kelli Embry, NPC VP for Administration, to provide the Building and Campus Development report. VP Embry shared various updates on Redbud Hall and the Welding Facility project. Embry provided a summary of projects that the Maintenance department has been working on in preparation for cooler weather.
2. VP for Student Affairs, Darla Thurber, and Dr. Chuck Argo, VP for Academic Affairs, provided a PowerPoint presentation on the development and anticipated fall 2026 implementation of the First Year Experience.
3. President's Report – President Derden reviewed key activities and events since the September board meeting, including the Nighthawk Tailgate on October 1, updates on men’s soccer and women’s basketball, participation in the first Arkansas Manufacturers Showcase in Little Rock and the ACC Conference in Hot Springs, and NPC’s collaboration with the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival to host a two-hour short film screening on campus. Dr. Derden also reminded trustees of the opportunity to meet with Honors Colloquium students for a discussion on politics and governance following the meeting and concluded by inviting board members to attend the Phi Theta Kappa event, Educational Journeys: A Storytelling Event, on Tuesday, October 28, featuring former NPC Board Chair Joyce Craft as a panelist.
4. New Business – Chair Hale reported the following items of new business:

• • Welcomed back Trustee Bush following his recent medical procedure.
  • Reminded trustees of the upcoming NPC Foundation Celebration of Giving event on November 6.
  • Expressed condolences to the family of Thad Flenniken on his passing.
  • Reminded trustees of the discussion with NPC Honors Program students immediately following the board meeting.
  • Noted that the November 2025 board meeting has been rescheduled to December 3 due to the Thanksgiving holiday and will be preceded by a two-hour professional development session with Ed Franklin beginning at 1:00 PM, during which lunch will be served.

Chair Hale asked for further comment from the trustees.

• Trustee Newburn reminded everyone to RSVP for the Celebration of Giving to be held on November 6^th, at 11:30 AM in the Student Commons.

Trustee Westfall motioned to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:22 PM.

Jim Hale, Chair
Raymond Wright, Secretary/Treasurer