National Park College will increase mandatory fees for the 2019-20 school year.
The NPC Board of Trustees approved the annual budget Wednesday which outlined an increase of $10 in mandatory fees per credit hour for Garland County residents and $13 per credit hour for out of district, out of state and international students. Mandatory fees per credit hour will now be $45 for Garland County students.
The college's tuition rate will remain flat for the year.
Steve Trusty, vice president for finance and administration, said the college remains fiscally conservative while continuing to expand academic resources and student support services within its means.
According to a news release, the increased fees will allow for investments in faculty, advising and retention staff, online learning software, and instructional equipment that includes cardiac monitors for the emergency medical professionals program, a new X-ray system and simulator for radiologic technology, chemical safety in the math and sciences division, a new computer lab for the digital art and design program, and new welding booths to expand the Welding program.
Despite the increase, both Trusty and John Hogan, president of NPC, told The Sentinel-Record the college remains below the average four-year university in costs.
"Our tuition and fees for in-district residents is less than half the cost of the average four-year university's tuition and fees," Trusty said. "We have several quality programs and we just wanted students to know they're getting a good value for the investment that they're making here. These things we talked about, what we're investing in, and then the fact that we're half the cost of the average four-year university should translate into a good bargain in the educational arena for students."
Hogan said "these are investments in student success -- the faculty, the advising staff, the equipment that we need in the instructional arena. More opportunities for the students in the investment of their success."
Hogan said some of the investments are part of the college's growing partnership with Southern Arkansas University. It was announced in February that both institutions would partner to offer four-year degree programs in Garland County on NPC's campus through SAU.
"In that sense, there's more value for students," Hogan said. "There's more opportunity and return on investment. They've said in developing this partnership 'You have some faculty needs you need that you have to address. You have some equipment needs you have to address. We've got to find funds to do that. Obviously, that's a strategic comparative for us here in this community."
As of Thursday, NPC had 26 students who have applied to the on-campus SAU degree plans. An additional 41 more have applied to 2-plus-2 programs with SAU. In total, NPC has 67 students who have applied for SAU degree plans at NPC. Of that group, 10 students are registered for classes in the on-campus programs and 11 in the 2-plus-2 program.
The budget outlined funding for the three new NJCAA athletics programs in baseball, softball and cross-country and includes expenses for travel and equipment, part-time coaching stipends for baseball and cross-country, and a full-time women's softball coach.
Trusty said that while the increase in fees won't directly impact operational costs for the new Student Commons Building, those costs were also budgeted for.
"Opening that new building will obviously mean an increase in utilities and we'll have to hire someone to clean that building," he said. "That is about 51,000 square feet and that is about the most that any one person has to clean in the evening on the custodial crew so we'll have to add another person for that. And then the state mandates that we have to put back what's called a sinking fund reserve on all new construction. That's all figured into this budget."
In addition to those investments, this year's budget includes a 20 percent increase in scholarships and increases to the college's recurring reserves. Trusty noted in the release that these investments will be made while remaining well under half of the cost of the average Arkansas university and without a request for a millage increase.
Hogan said in the release that the college is "investing in solid strategies to further promote student success and also some innovative ideas that I believe will have a lasting impact on our community.
"Our students are why we are here and the investments we make to help them succeed will always pay off," he said.
Local on 05/25/2019