National Park College trustees have unanimously approved a proposed merger with the University of Arkansas System, advancing a plan that would make the Hot Springs two-year college the system’s 10th community college.
The proposal now moves to the UA System Board of Trustees, which is expected to consider it at its Dec. 1-2 meeting. The merger would not take effect based solely on the college board’s vote.
What the proposal would do
National Park College enrolls approximately 600 students and offers associate degrees along with select bachelor’s degrees. University of Arkansas System President Jay Silveria and National Park College President Wade Derden have said the affiliation could make it easier for students at National Park to transfer to one of the system’s seven universities to complete a bachelor’s degree.
National Park College would follow North Arkansas College, which joined the UA System earlier this year. If the proposal is approved, National Park would become the 10th community college in the system.
- National Park College trustees approved the merger unanimously.
- The UA System Board of Trustees is expected to review the proposal Dec. 1-2.
- System and college leaders have said tuition would not increase and no job cuts are anticipated as a result of the merger.
The vote followed a campus listening session on Oct. 6, when representatives of the two institutions addressed questions from faculty and students. Concerns included possible changes to employee benefits and tuition costs.
Silveria said at the listening session that tuition would not increase because of the merger. He and Derden also said they hope the arrangement will broaden educational opportunities for National Park students, including those who plan to continue at another institution after completing work at the college.
“For me, it's about expanding opportunity across the state. We are the University of Arkansas System. We have the land-grant mission to provide education across our state, and so this expands our guts geographically, but also these students will have an opportunity to connect into a lot of our other institutions much easier.” — Jay Silveria, University of Arkansas System president
Derden said during the Oct. 6 session that discussions about the proposed merger had begun about six weeks earlier and that a lengthy approval process remained. The UA System trustees’ December consideration is the next announced step in that process.
