National Park College (NPC) and the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) announced
a new bachelor’s degree partnership Tuesday. The institutions will collaborate to
bring a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree to Hot Springs beginning in July 2025.
All four years of the new bachelor’s degree will be offered on the NPC campus. Students
will complete the Associate of Science in Nursing degree enrolled as NPC students
and the remainder of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree enrolled as UAM students.
While completing the associate degree coursework, students will be charged NPC tuition
rates. UAM tuition rates will apply for students to finish the Bachelor of Science
in Nursing program. Participants will have access to the full range of services and
resources provided by both NPC and UAM. Upon completion, students will receive an
associate degree diploma from NPC and a bachelor's degree diploma from UAM.
All NPC students who apply to UAM will automatically be considered for UAM’s Nighthawk
Transfer Scholarship, which offers a $3,000 award per semester for a maximum of four
academic terms of continuous enrollment. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science
in Nursing program at NPC with 55 hours completed at NPC with a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative
grade point average will be eligible for the scholarship.
Dr. John Hogan, president of NPC, said, “This has been quite a long journey, and I
am glad we have found a partner in UAM that will work with us in the spirit of meeting
our students’ needs. Health care is the top industry in our community, and nursing
is the most significant need of our employers. It has been a frustrating and arduous
effort to provide students with this degree option, so I am grateful for the patience
of our students, the support our community and UAM’s willingness to stand beside us
and take on this important responsibility.”
Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of UAM, said, “Adding the Bachelor of Science in Nursing
program to our campus within a campus partnership with National Park College will
effectively address another crucial need in the Arkansas workforce. Ensuring the availability
of highly skilled nurses in every part of the state is fundamental to meeting the
health care needs of our communities. We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to
once again collaborate with NPC, demonstrating the strength of cooperation between
two Arkansas higher education institutions. As a result, NPC students will have a
pathway to pursue an affordable four-year nursing degree from the University of Arkansas
at Monticello, supported by the Nighthawk Transfer Scholarship.”
A press conference for media was held on the NPC campus Tuesday in the Frederick M.
Dierks Center for Nursing and Health Sciences. Speakers included Dr. Hogan, Dr. Doug
Ross, president of CHI St. Vincent Hospital Hot Springs and chief medical officer
for the health system, Dr. Doss, Chris Thomason, vice president for planning and development
at the University of Arkansas System, and Ken Warden, commissioner of the Arkansas
Division of Higher Education.
View photos from the announcement.
