NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting
September 24, 2025
The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on September 24, 2025, beginning at 3:30 PM. Trustees present were Jim Hale, Bev Joe, Joel Newburn, Lance Porter, Forrest Spicher, Renee Westfall, and Raymond Wright.
Staff, faculty members, and guests present were Chuck Argo, Sheena Burrow, Blake Butler, Chris Chapmond, Lisa Couch, Sarah Day, Wade Derden, Jessica Ellis, Kelli Embry, Kathy Flournoy, Leane Hardin, Nicole Herndon, Brad Hopper, Lisa Hopper, Brian Kroening, Jennifer Lyons, Caysie Martin, Mark McCorkle, Hannah Outler, Scott Post, Emily Pyland, Kristin Quintanilla, Bill Ritter, Kristen Sangster, Sheryl Strother, Mary Ann Thomae, Rich Thompson, Darla Thurber, Gary Troutman, Lindsey Vondenstein, Tim Webb, Megan Wheeler, Cierra Wilburn.
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.
Sarah Day introduced Gary Troutman with the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce; Lindsey Vondenstein, who introduced the Student Spotlight attendees, Hannah Outler, Kristen Sangster, and Cierra Wilburn; Chair Hale introduced the Spotlight on Success speaker, Chris Chapmond.
Board Chair Jim Hale provided the invocation.
Items for Action
- Trustee Joe motioned to approve the August 27, 2025, regular meeting minutes as presented. Trustee Spicher seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the July 2025 financial statements as presented by Megan Wheeler, NPC Controller, during the Finance Committee Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Joe motioned to approve the September Personnel Ratifications as presented by Kathy Flournoy, NPC Director of Human Resources. Trustee Wright seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Porter motioned to approve the amended NPC Policy 4.520 as presented by Kelli Embry. Trustee Wright seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
- Trustee Westfall motioned to approve the Academic Program Changes as presented by Dr. Chuck Argo. Questions were asked and answered. Trustee Porter seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Items for Report
- Trustee Wright shared how pleased he was with the Welding Facility Groundbreaking Ceremony that took place before the Board meeting. He then asked Brad Hopper, NPC Associate VP of Campus Operations, to provide the Building and Campus Development report. Mr. Hopper shared that the welding facility building pad should be complete this week, and that the footings and electrical under-slab rough-in should start next week. They also hope to have the pre-construction meeting with Hot Springs Water next week. Hopper provided a summary of projects that the Maintenance department has worked on since June, and recent activities related to campus health and safety.
- VP for Student Affairs, Darla Thurber, and Bill Ritter, VP for Workforce, provided
a PowerPoint presentation on the Fall 2025 preliminary enrollment report.
- Combined credit and noncredit enrollment for the 2025–2026 academic year shows NPC served more than 4,845 students, up from approximately 4,630 in fall 2024. While credit enrollment dipped slightly, workforce and community education programs saw double-digit growth.
- VP Thurber reported that credit enrollment for fall 2025 is 1,756 compared to 1,821 in 2024. Semester credit hours totaled 21,314, down from 22,725 last year, with the average load shifting slightly from 12.4 to 12 hours. Concurrent enrollment increased to 697 high school students, a 3.4% rise from 2024.
- VP Ritter reported that NPC’s Workforce and Community Education Division has served 2,392 students since July 1, a 12% increase over the same period last year. Enrollment in electrical, plumbing, and HVAC apprenticeship programs has grown by nearly 20%, Career Academy programs by 5%, and Child Care Aware® childcare worker certification by 28%. Adult Education has expanded to serve 581 students (up 5%), Continuing Education has grown by 64% to 172 learners, and summer camps surged 90% with 198 participants. The Makerspace welcomed 465 visitors, and workforce training has served 78 students so far this year.
- President's Report – President Derden expressed appreciation for a well-attended groundbreaking ceremony for the new Welding Facility. Derden recognized Dr. Chuck Argo and the Academic Affairs team for putting together a strong Outdoor Recreation proposal. President Derden emphasized the importance of measuring the College’s success across all programs, credit and noncredit. Derden stated that credit enrollment remains solid after last year’s record growth, but what excites him most is the impact the college is making across the community.
- New Business – Chair Hale had no new business to report.
Chair Hale asked for further comment from the trustees.
- Trustee Porter commended the college for its reputation of hard work and attentiveness to students and local industry, noting that this has strengthened the college’s standing within the community.
- Trustee Spicher expressed his appreciation for the great turnout for the Welding Facility Groundbreaking Ceremony.
- Trustee Westfall echoed Trustee Spicher’s comments.
- Trustee Newburn reminded everyone of the free NPC Tailgate on Wednesday, October 1st, at 5PM.
Trustee Westfall motioned to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:31 PM.
Jim Hale, Chair
Raymond Wright, Secretary/Treasurer