Agendas & Meetings

NPC Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting

February 4, 2026

The National Park College Board of Trustees met in a regular session on February 4, 2026, beginning at 3:30 PM. Trustees present were Mike Bush, Jim Hale, Rhonda Harrington, Bev Joe, Lance Porter, Forrest Spicher, Renee Westfall, and Raymond Wright.

Staff, faculty members, and guests present were Chuck Argo, Alexandra Barnard, Natalie Brown, Blake Butler, Victoria Caraway, Alexis Castleberry, Samantha Christian, Sarah Day, Wade Derden, Isabella East, Jessica Ellis, Kelli Embry, Kathy Flournoy, Michelle Godwin, Leane Hardin, Nicole Herndon, Brad Hopper, Delmar Hunter, Rylee Jones, Chloe Killip, Brian Kroening, Ginger Ladehoff, Paul Lozano, Jennifer Lyons, Rose Milnes, Alexus Noles, Mark Oliver, Rebeka Parker (Team Captain), Nathan Poor (Chartwells), Scott Post, Connie Poteet, Emily Pyland, Kristin Quintanilla, Jean Carlos Ramos Ortiz, Bill Ritter, Stephanie Rizzo, Kennedy Ryan-Zoller, Laura Stillwell, Mary Ann Thomae, Darla Thurber, Julie Tyler, Laura Verdugo, Tim Ward, Tim Webb, Megan Wheeler, and Karly Wilt.

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.

Chair Jim Hale provided the invocation.

Sarah Day introduced Bill Ritter, NPC VP for Workforce, who introduced Delmar Hunter, NPC Assistant Professor Marine Technology, and the following students with the US Navy on campus to receive their Yamaha Certification: Paul Lozano, Laura Verdugo, and Jean Carlos Ramos Ortiz; Sarah Day introduced Michelle Godwin, NPC Athletics Operations Coordinator, who introduced members of the NPC Cheer Team: Natalie Brown, Alexis Castleberry, Isabella East, Rylee Jones, Chloe Killip, Alexus Noles, Rebeka Parker (Team Captain), Laura Stillwell, Julie Tyler, Karly Wilt, and Kennedy Ryan-Zoller.

Items for Action

1. Trustee Bush motioned to approve the December 3, 2025, regular meeting minutes as presented. Trustee Spicher seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
2. Trustee Spicher motioned to approve the December 2025 financial statements as presented by Megan Wheeler, NPC Controller, during the Finance Committee Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
3. Kathy Flournoy, NPC Director of Human Resources, presented the January Personnel Ratifications, noting that there was one change to be made: Abigail Orendorff was to be removed from the Separations for the time being. Trustee Harrington motioned to approve the January Personnel Ratifications as presented. Trustee Wright seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
4. Trustee Wright motioned to approve the CY26 High Priority Objectives as presented by Kelli Embry, NPC VP for Administration. Trustee Westfall seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
5. Trustee Westfall motioned to approve the Amended NPC Policy 8.500 Information Technology Acceptable Use as presented by Blake Butler, NPC VP for Information Technology. Trustee Joe seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
6. Chuck Argo, NPC VP for Academic Affairs, presented the following Academic Program changes:
   • NEW PROGRAM: Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, CP - The Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Certificate of Proficiency prepares students to provide advanced prehospital care through expanded training. Building on EMT competencies, the program integrates anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and evidence-based emergency care to manage medical, trauma, and environmental emergencies across the lifespan. Completion of this program enables students to earn a Certificate of Proficiency (CP) and also serves as the first semester of the Paramedic program, providing a seamless pathway for students who wish to continue into advanced paramedic-level training. Graduates are prepared to function as integral members of the EMS system, deliver safe and effective patient care, and meet the requirements to test for National Registry AEMT certification.
     
     Trustee Bush motioned to approve the new program as presented by Dr. Chuck Argo. Trustee Porter seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
     
     

1. • 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. The programs listed below are being deactivated due to low or no enrollment and graduates over the last 3–5 years. We are creating clearer transfer options by developing stand-alone degrees that better serve our students.
     
     Trustee Harrington motioned to approve the program deactivations as presented by Dr. Chuck Argo. Trustee Joe seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

Program Deactivations

Degree	Major	Transfer University
AA	Organizational Leadership, AA for Transfer to UAFS BS in Organizational Leadership	UAFS
AS	Elementary Education, AS for Transfer to UCA BSE in Elementary Education K-6	UCA
AS	Middle Level Education, AS for Transfer to HSU BSE in Middle Level Education - Language Arts	HSU
AS	Middle Level Education, AS for Transfer to HSU BSE in Middle Level Education - Math	HSU
AS	Middle Level Education, AS for Transfer to HSU BSE in Middle Level Education - Science	HSU
AS	Middle Level Education, AS for Transfer to HSU BSE in Middle Level Education - Social Studies	HSU
AS	Middle Level Education, AS for Transfer to UCA BSE in Middle Level Education 4-8 - Language Arts & Math	UCA
AS	Middle Level Education, AS for Transfer to UCA BSE in Middle Level Education 4-8 - Language Arts & Science	UCA
AS	Middle Level Education, AS for Transfer to UCA BSE in Middle Level Education 4-8 - Language Arts & Social Studies	UCA
AS	Middle Level Education, AS for Transfer to UCA BSE in Middle Level Education 4-8 - Math & Science	UCA
AS	Middle Level Education, AS for Transfer to UCA BSE in Middle Level Education 4-8 - Math & Social Studies	UCA
AS	Middle Level Education, AS for Transfer to UCA BSE in Middle Level Education 4-8 - Science & Social Studies	UCA
AS-LAS	Advertising, AS-LAS for Transfer to HU (Harding University) BA in Advertising	HU
AS-LAS	Anthropology, AS-LAS for Transfer to UCA BS in Anthropology	UCA
AS-LAS	Art Education, AS-LAS for Transfer to UALR BA in Art Education	UALR
AS-LAS	Art History, AS-LAS for Transfer to UALR BA in Art History	UALR
AS-LAS	Bible and Ministry, AS-LAS for Transfer to HU (Harding University) BA in Bible and Ministry	HU
AS-LAS	Choral Education, AS-LAS for Transfer to HSU BM in Choral Education	HSU
AS-LAS	Communication Studies, AS-LAS for Transfer to ASU BA in Communication Studies	ASU
AS-LAS	Communication Studies, AS-LAS for Transfer to HU (Harding University) BA in Communication Studies	HU
AS-LAS	English, AS-LAS for Transfer to ASU BA in English	ASU
AS-LAS	Film, AS-LAS for Transfer to HU (Harding University) BA in Film	HU
AS-LAS	Geography - Geospatial Technology, AS-LAS for Transfer to UCA BS in Geography - Geospatial Technology	UCA
AS-LAS	Geography, AS-LAS for Transfer to UCA BS in Geography	UCA
AS-LAS	Health Promotion, AS-LAS for Transfer to UCA BS in Health Promotion	UCA
AS-LAS	History, AS-LAS for Transfer to UCA BA in History	UCA
AS-LAS	History, AS-LAS for Transfer to UCA BS in History	UCA
AS-LAS	Integrated Marketing Communication, AS-LAS for Transfer to HU (Harding University) BA in Integrated Marketing Communication	HU
AS-LAS	Media Production, AS-LAS for Transfer to HU (Harding University) BA in Media Production	HU
AS-LAS	Multimedia Journalism, AS-LAS for Transfer to HU (Harding University) BA in Multimedia Journalism	HU
AS-LAS	Philosophy, AS-LAS for Transfer to UCA BS in Philosophy	UCA
AS-LAS	Public Relations, AS-LAS for Transfer to HU (Harding University) BA in Public Relations	HU
AS-LAS	Social Studies - History, AS-LAS for Transfer to UCA BSE in Social Studies - History 7-12	UCA
AS-LAS	Strategic Communications, AS-LAS for Transfer to ASUJ BA in Strategic Communications	ASU
AS-LAS	Studio Art, AS-LAS for Transfer to UALR BA Studio Art	UALR
AS-LAS	Studio Art, AS-LAS for Transfer to UALR BFA Studio Art	UALR
AS-LAS	Theatre, AS-LAS for Transfer to HU (Harding University) BA in Theatre	HU
AS-STEM	Business Information Systems, AS-STEM for Transfer to UALR BBA in Business Information Systems	UALR
AS-STEM	Geology, AS-STEM for Transfer to UALR BS in Geology	UALR
AS-STEM	Geology, AS-STEM for Transfer to UALR BS in Geology: Environmental Geology Concentration	UALR

 

Items for Report

1. Trustee Wright asked Brad Hopper, NPC Associate Vice President of Campus Operations, to provide the Building and Campus Development report. Mr. Hopper provided a PowerPoint presentation that included an update on the welding facility project and the effect the recent winter weather had on the campus.
2. VP Kelli Embry provided the CY25High Priority Objectives report (Attachment A). Embry provided a PowerPoint presentation with the collected data. Discussion ensued, and questions were answered.
3. President's Report – President Derden thanked the NPC Maintenance team for all the hard work they did to open the campus following the recent winter weather. He expressed gratitude for the generous donation from the Windgate Foundation that will help equip the new welding facility and provide scholarships for students in that program. President Derden explained that the metrics included in the High Priority Objectives are intentionally designed as stretch goals so that the college continues to strive for higher levels of performance. Derden stated that he expects the growth in concurrent enrollment to continue and that NPC prides itself on providing concurrent students with a high-quality and equivalent college experience. NPC maintains national accreditation from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) and follows its standards to ensure our credits transfer not only within Arkansas but nationwide. Dr. Derden invited everyone to the NPC-hosted inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit on March 6th in partnership with the Hot Springs Women’s Leadership Alliance. President Derden acknowledged that NPC has been nominated for Best Large Business of the Year and congratulated VP Darla Thurber for being nominated for the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year.
4. New Business – Chair Hale stated that NPC is in the process of sowing what has been reaped in hard work, namely the partnership with the US Navy and our Marine Technology program, and the Windgate donation to support the welding program. Prior to the Report Items, Hale shared that landscape architect Liz Williams had passed away.  Ms. Williams had done some tremendous work for NPC, particularly with the Red Maples on the east side of campus.

There was no further business.

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

Jim Hale, Chair
Raymond Wright, Secretary/Treasurer