NPC opens Student Services
The National Park College campus is now open to provide students with face-to-face advising, testing, financial aid and scholarship assistance that follows pandemic safety guidelines.
Beginning Monday, Student Services returned to normal hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Students can walk-in or make an appointment to receive assistance. All staff, students and visitors will be screened before entering the Student Commons building, according to a post on the college’s Facebook page on Monday.
“While our physical campus was closed, instruction continued remotely, and we were available to assist students with tutoring, advising and other needs virtually,” NPC President John Hogan said.
“We have had some staff members report to campus as needed while following social distancing guidelines. It is great to welcome our students back to campus,” Hogan said.
Darla Thurber, vice president for external affairs, said the college is taking a phased approach to opening campus, evaluating what is safe and bringing in employees that are needed to serve students.
“We began our approach with enrollment services staff, those who most directly serve our students during application and enrollment. Other staff and faculty members have volunteered to assist, as well,” she said.
Hogan said some of the students are interested in meeting with an adviser in person to discuss their educational opportunities and NPC can provide that service in a safe environment.
“It was the right decision because it is what is best for our students,” he said.
Hogan said the campus is following mitigating guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide a safe environment for students and visitors while still offering virtual meetings for students who prefer to meet in that format.
For the fall semester, NPC knows the students demand a quality education for under half the cost of the average Arkansas university and close to home, he said, and they want to know they are safe.
“To that end, we are making additional investments in technology to increase automation and accessibility for students,” Hogan said.
“We will equip our students with
all the resources needed to be successful in their classes this fall, no matter how they choose to attend those classes,” he said.
The college will not be rescheduling events that were canceled due to the campus being closed. NPC made some events virtual, such as Scholarship and Financial Aid Q&A and its Start Here, Finish Here: Bachelor’s degrees in Hot Springs info session, Thurber said.
“We will host others in that format. Other large events are postponed indefinitely,” she said.
Board meetings will remain virtual at this time, Thurber said, noting NPC’s board members are trained on using video software and have been successful using that platform.
NPC feels fortunate to be opening the new Dogwood Hall in August, and it is designed in a way to provide a safe living environment for our students, Hogan said.
“The apartment-style living areas allow for plenty of personal space among residents,” he said.