National Park College (NPC) Board of Trustees held their regular monthly meeting Wednesday, January 24. Items for report included new transfer agreements, building project updates, and an internship grant report.
The Board welcomed special guest Gary Troutman, President of the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and Hot Springs Metro Partnership. New hires Nicole Herndon, Assistant Director of Development, Jamie Williams and Justise Williamson, fiscal support specialists were introduced.
Sherrion Parks was introduced as the student of the month for January. She is in the
respiratory care program and serves as a member of the senior class program advisory
board. Parks maintains a 3.50 GPA while balancing two jobs and three teenage children.
Paul Lowe, respiratory care program director described Parks as a leader among her
classmates stating, “She has a wonderful positive ‘can do attitude.’ I wish I has
a class full of students like her.” Pictured is Parks at the Gerald Fisher Campus Center.
Steve Trusty, Vice President for Finance and Administration provided a financial
report. He asked the board to approve a resolution that designates Friday, Eldredge
and Clark, LLP as bond counsel for the upcoming campus expansion projects.
Dr. Wade Derden, Vice President for Academic Affairs asked the board to approve seven
new transfer agreements. Dr. Cathi McMahan, head of the Parks, Recreation and Hospitality
Administration program with Arkansas Tech University (ATU) was present for the approval
of three agreements for Associate of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees
in hospitality administration including event management, food service management,
and lodging management.
Dr. David Lanoue, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for Southern Arkansas University
(SAU) was present for the approval of four agreements for Associate of Science in
Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in computer science, computer gaming and animation
design, computer technology, and cyber security and privacy. The National Park University
(NPU) Center will offer a total of 76 transfer degree opportunities in fall 2018.
Attached photo: Pictured left to right front row, Dr. Cathi McMahan (ATU), Forrest
Spicher, Dr. John Hogan, and Dr. David Lanoue (SAU); back row, SAU representatives
Shelly Whaley, Associate Dean for Enrollment Services, Steve Sutton, transfer advisor
to NPC, and Sarah Jennings, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services.
Trustee Jim Hale provided an update on progress toward phase one of the campus master
plan. The Board approved a $15 million campus expansion at a special called meeting
in August, which includes construction of a new student commons facility, renovation
of the Fisher Campus Center, and updates to technical program facilities. Surveyors
were on site today and soil borings are scheduled to take place tomorrow. Architect
John McMoran shared that his team is working to create a 3D virtual rendering of the
project.
Mary Kay Wurm, Director of Career Services provided an update on the Great Lakes Career
Readiness Internship Grant. The grant’s goal is to increase employer partners for
credit and noncredit internships and to increase retention and graduation rates for
students. The grant has placed 46 interns with 32 employers to date, eight of which
were hired by the host employer. The retention rate for participants is 91 percent.
Attached photo: Pictured is Wurm with employer Angela Echols from Accessible Legal
Services, intern James Forbus placed with Triumph Airborne, and employer Nina Alter
with West Shores Senior Living.
Dr. John Hogan concluded the meeting with the president’s report. He reported that NPC was named a Top 10 College for Online Programs in Arkansas from Onlinecolleges.com. He commended staff members who participated in the Christmas parade float, which won second place this year. He noted the campus hosted the Mobilizing Communities Against Human Trafficking conference this month with approximately 300 attendees.
He congratulated Mary Kay Wurm, Director of Career Services for her nomination as Woman of the Year from the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. He also congratulated Vice President for Workforce and Strategic Initiatives, Kelli Albrecht for her appointment to the Arkansas STEM Coalition board.
Homecoming events are scheduled for February 24. The day will begin with the Van Davis 5K at 9 a.m. at Whittington Park, an alumni reception and lunch in the Frederick Dierks building at 11 a.m. followed by the Nighthawk women’s team vs. ASU-Midsouth at 12:30 p.m. and the Nighthawk men’s team vs. Champion Christian College at 2:30 p.m.
