The National Park College (NPC) Board of Trustees held their regular monthly meeting Wednesday, where they approved the 2025-26 annual budget and adopted the 2025-30 strategic plan.
Kelli Embry, vice president for administration, presented the proposed budget and strategic plan during the board’s annual budget retreat last week.
Embry said the annual budget is fiscally conservative and focuses on initiatives that promote student success and enhance the student experience both in and out of the classroom. It also provides for continued improvements to campus facilities, including funding for critical maintenance needs.
NPC’s tuition rate and mandatory fees will remain flat for the year, marking a continued effort to keep higher education affordable and accessible for students and families.
As part of the strategic planning approval process, the board reaffirmed the college’s mission, vision and values statement. Embry said, “During the focus groups held last fall, participants overwhelmingly agreed that our mission statement—‘Learning is our focus; student success is our goal’—remains a strong and accurate reflection of NPC’s core purpose. They felt it clearly communicates our unwavering commitment to student success.”
The new strategic plan outlines the institution’s priorities for the next five years, emphasizing a commitment to academic achievement, student success, employee engagement and regional partnerships.
These priorities will guide institutional efforts, ensuring that NPC continues to meet the evolving educational and economic needs of Garland County and surrounding communities.
“The new budget and strategic priorities represent our shared values and vision for the future,” said NPC President Dr. Wade Derden. “Through this strategic plan, we will ensure the college remains fiscally strong, strengthen our academic programs, enhance the student experience, support our dedicated employees and deepen our partnerships throughout the region.”
The full 2025–30 strategic plan is available online at np.edu/StrategicPlan.