National Park College sees fall, spring graduation rates increase
National Park College officials say there was a 16.6% increase in graduates during the recently completed fall and spring semesters compared to the previous year, despite the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 478 graduates completed degrees or certificates for the fall and spring semesters, a news release said.
Summer graduates will be awarded in August.
In total, the college conferred 678 degrees and certificates, which is nine fewer than the previous year’s 687 degrees and certificates, the release said.
“Increasing degree attainment is one of our high priority objectives as a campus because it is critical for our local economy to have an educated workforce. I am proud of the work our team has done this year, but I am not surprised,” President John Hogan said.
“We have dedicated and caring professionals who are committed to helping our students succeed, and it shows,” he said.
Melony Martinez, director of marketing and public relations, said the graduation rates are an important benchmark for measuring student success and college officials are proud to see the number of graduates increase despite the hardships brought to the campus this semester.
“It is yet another great example of how NPC students, faculty, and staff exhibit what we call ‘Nighthawk Grit,’” she said.
Wade Derden, vice president for academic affairs, said
the college saw an increase in the fall and spring graduation rates because the campus has implemented a nationwide strategy known as Guided Pathways, which required the college to assess its degree pathways and eliminate barriers to student progress like hidden prerequisites.
The college also eliminated almost 200 courses that did not transfer but were considered enrichment courses or elective courses, he said.
“We also developed very clear ‘Grad Maps’ that students and advisers could use to see what was needed each semester to stay on track with a degree, reducing extra or unnecessary credits for students,” Derden said.
In addition to these efforts, the college has adopted a faculty mentoring program. Faculty mentors are experts in a particular discipline and are trained on the Grad Maps within their degree program. When students declare a major, they are directed to the faculty mentors and receive additional discipline-specific advising, he said.
“The college also adopted a
15 to finish campaign aimed at encouraging students to take
15 credit hours each semester, rather than the minimum of 12 for federal financial aid qualification. Fifteen hours per semester is required to graduate on time,” Derden said.
“We have also tightened up our graduation processes to try to make that easier for students and to communicate the process they need to complete to graduate,” he said.
Derden said the college has worked hard to step up services to students to help alleviate personal strains, including addressing food insecurity by providing more robust food services.
“We provide assistance with professional counseling and referrals, and now we are trying to address housing insecurity with residence halls. These types of services are important to retention,” he said.
Derden said the student services leadership is working diligently to provide a robust student life experience on campus.
There is still work to do, he said, noting the college still finds hidden prerequisites all the time, but they are working those out. The college has almost 100 partner degrees with four-year universities.
“These curriculum requirements change annually in at least a few of those partnerships, and we have to redesign our grad maps, retrain our advisers and faculty mentors, and re-communicate the expectations to students,” Derden said.
“Six new associate degrees were awarded for the first time, including degrees in vocal performance and midlevel education for transfer to Henderson State University, addiction studies for transfer to the University of Central Arkansas, hospitality and tourism for transfer to the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, and computer gaming for transfer to Southern Arkansas University. Three graduates also completed NPC’s online Associate of Arts degree for the first time,” the news release said.
Martinez said the six new associate degrees are associate of science in liberal arts and sciences vocal performance (for transfer to HSU), an associate of science in liberal arts and sciences computer gaming (for transfer to SAU), associate of science in liberal arts and sciences addiction studies (for transfer to UCA), an associate of science in education midlevel math/language arts (for transfer to HSU), an associate of applied science in hospitality tourism (for transfer to UAFS) and associate of arts online.
The logistics of lining up the cars and coordinating a drivethrough graduation event on June 13 was a challenge. The college typically has its commencement at Bank OZK Arena downtown, which allows for plenty of space for family and friends, she said.
“We were not able to allow family and friends to gather and celebrate for this event, and that was disappointing,” Martinez said, noting, “We are hopeful that many of this year’s graduates will be able to join us in person for the 2021 commencement ceremony.”
Derden said the students persevered this semester, and so did the faculty, as evidenced by the graduation numbers.
“It is always rewarding to watch students walk across the stage at commencement, but this year was especially gratifying because we all knew the determination it took for them to get here, both from the students and from our faculty who adapted their classes to a virtual environment in a matter of days. This was definitely one we will never forget,” he said.