January 26, 2016
The past year brought about progressive changes at National Park College. While our name and visual identity are new, the impact the College makes in the community remains a long-standing tradition.
Education
NPC is Garland County’s institution of higher education. Our purpose as a comprehensive community college is to offer general education and transfer opportunities, pre-college coursework, technical and professional programs, and continuing education and workforce training opportunities to meet the needs of the community.
In addition to reducing our tuition and guaranteeing the skills of our graduates, this year we have added 22 new degrees and certificates and expanded transfer opportunities across the state. Two new associate degrees were added, including an Associate of Science in Engineering and an Associate of Science in Liberal Arts & Science – Addiction Studies. Certificates were added in Automotive Maintenance & Repair, Business Law, Basic Business Principles, Basic Business Management, Automotive Service/Maintenance, Automotive Brake Specialist, Automotive Tune-up Specialist, Automotive Front End Specialist, Automotive Engine Performance Specialist, SMAW Welding, GTAW Welding, GMAW Welding, Welding Layout and Fabrication, Pipe Welding, Criminal Justice, Mechanical Systems, Industrial Controls, Desktop Publishing Design, Advertising & Design, Allied Health, Digital Media, and Production Technology.
Transfer agreements were developed with the University of Central Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Henderson State University, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and Arkansas Tech University.
Leadership
As part of our core values, we teach our students to be accountable to themselves, one another and their community, fostering a learning environment of collaboration, mutual respect and support. Our Board of Trustees adopted seven high priority objectives and a strategic plan that holds each area of campus accountable for student success. Our faculty and staff demonstrate leadership values with their dedication to both our campus and the community, while working to mentor the next generation of community leaders.
Community Involvement
Our community has a strong spirit of collaboration. Faculty, staff and students led service learning projects that benefited dozens of community organizations with more than 4400 hours of community service. Four student groups received awards for surpassing 250 service hours. The College benefits from many valuable partnerships reaching all areas of the community including our area public school districts, city and county law enforcement, business and industry, and many more.
The College hosts numerous community events throughout the year including summer Kid’s College and manufacturing camp programs, job fairs, Manufacturing Day, State and Local Candidate Forums, and our annual Holiday in the Park celebration to name a few.
Innovation
NPC continues to embrace a culture of innovation. The College was awarded a regional workforce planning grant to establish an Innovative Technologies Center (ITC), a project that will lay the foundation for the expansion of technology education and create an environment of technology collaboration and exchange among industry, innovators and the community. The primary goal for the ITC will be to align workforce development and academic programs with regional economic development strategies to meet the needs of local and regional employers and prepare a workforce with the skills to be competitive in the 21st century workplace. The ITC partnered with Mid America Science Museum to offer an Hour of Code event for children and their families, and have plans to offer many more opportunities to help bridge from K-12 to career.
Workforce Development
The College has an important role in the economic development of Garland County, striving to meet the needs of business and industry and provide a stable educated workforce. In 2015 we served more than 65 companies, completing approximately 40,000 contact hours of specialized training, industry certifications and professional development opportunities. The College created an Industrial Technology Program using a federal (TAACCT) grant, specifically tailored to help close the skills gaps of local manufacturing employers. NPC collaborated with Berry Plastics, industry champion and grant partner, to create a series of courses that met their workers’ needs. The specially designed program accommodated employees’ work schedules and provided targeted services to ensure success. Similar creative approaches to employee training have been developed for Baxley/Log Pro, CVS Health, and many others.
Giving Back
The Foundation experienced record growth this year. Thanks to the generosity of our community, more than 900 student scholarships valued at nearly $1.65 million dollars were awarded.
An investment in our students is an investment in our community. We enjoy watching the gift of education come full circle as many of those students are now loyal donors, helping pay it forward for the next generation.
The NPC Foundation hosts several annual events including the Van Davis Memorial 5K and Bill Ogden Memorial Golf Scramble, and supports the scholarship efforts of the American Association of University Women and Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Garland County.
Looking Ahead
The next year will hold many exciting opportunities for National Park College as we embrace new partnerships and explore innovative ideas. We are placing an added emphasis on organizational efficiency and professional development to ensure we maintain high standards of quality in learning and service to students. As the educational landscape continues to evolve, NPC will evaluate new degree programs and expand online learning while continuing to adapt our offerings to meet the needs of tomorrow’s learners.
John A. Hogan, Ph.D.
President, National Park College
