The mission of the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) is to advance Southern Virginia’s economic potential through education, innovation, and collaboration.

By enabling the citizens of Southern Virginia to achieve “educational victories” in the form of for-credit degrees, certificates, and diplomas, and noncredit third-party industry-recognized certifications, the SVHEC is contributing to the long-term economic strength of the region.

The six core values of Collaboration, Integrity, Respect, Customer Focus, Stewardship, and Innovation form the foundation of a thriving workplace culture at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC). These values guide employee behavior, decision-making, and interactions, fostering an environment of trust, ethical conduct, and mutual respect.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) builds critical workforce capacity in Southern Virginia by providing affordable access to comprehensive post-secondary education and workforce training opportunities. Since 1986, the SVHEC has brokered unique academic and industry partnerships and leveraged resources to overcome barriers to economic advancement in this historically underserved rural region.

For decades, the region’s citizens worked in textile manufacturing and tobacco production, filling jobs that required a high school diploma or less. Both sectors shrank in the 1980’s, leaving a workforce with low educational attainment and few transferable skills. As other sectors emerged to lead the region’s economy, the need for post-secondary preparation became paramount. In response, Halifax County initiated and funded the “Continuing Education Center or “CEC” to offer community college courses in a mobile unit on the grounds of Halifax County High School. A year later, the CEC became an off-campus site for Longwood University and began offering classes toward a four-year degree while still offering community college classes.

Two decades later, the region still lacked adequate access to post-secondary education and training. On July 1, 2005, the General Assembly established the SVHEC as an institution of higher education and a state agency. The agency would serve as a collaborative "education facilitator" to connect the region’s citizens with higher education resources where they live and work. The Center’s name changed from the Continuing Education Center to the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, and its focus became providing accessible, affordable education from GED to PhD programs through partnerships with degree-granting education institutions that would bring their programs to the South Boston campus.

In fiscal year 2018, the agency’s statutory authority was amended to allow the SVHEC to develop and deliver its own noncredit training programs to fill programmatic gaps where no other partners were providing those programs. The SVHEC also collaborates with its education partners to offer the partners' noncredit workforce training programs under "co-enrollment" arrangements on the SVHEC campus. Through its proprietary programs and collaboration with partners, the SVHEC ensures students can access a broad range of workforce training program options. 

Working with education and industry partners, the SVHEC provides individuals with economic advancement opportunities and employers with a skilled workforce. This, in turn, is strengthening local economies and transforming Southern Virginia into a region where current industries thrive, new industries seek to locate, and individuals want to live and work.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center’s (SVHEC) highest priority is to increase regional educational attainment and workforce preparedness. This is accomplished through a multi-pronged strategy that includes:

· encouraging and supporting collaborations that address regional education and training needs by leveraging economic and educational assets;

· removing barriers and providing supports to ensure student success;

· maintaining a sound and sustainable business model; and

· anticipating changes to facilities, operations, and staff required for future growth.

Collaborations

Education Partners at the SVHEC - The SVHEC’s longest-standing form of collaboration is its “turnkey” model for degree-granting institutions that bring their programs to the SVHEC campus. The agency provides technologically advanced facilities and a full array of services including front desk, operations, IT, security, and custodial support. Through this model, partners find it financially feasible to offer high-demand programs in southern Virginia and students can complete degrees and certifications without leaving home.

New Collaborative Models for Education and Training - Recently, the SVHEC welcomed new partner programs including Danville Community College’s (DCC) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant and co-enrolled Industrial Maintenance programs. The Welding@SVHEC program now offers both noncredit and for-credit enrollment options through a co-enrollment arrangement with  Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC). In spring 2024, the SVHEC started new registered apprenticeships in industrial maintenance for one of Halifax County’s largest employers. With expertise in curriculum development and delivery, the SVHEC Workforce Training team enables businesses to save money and avoid lost production time when onboarding or upskilling employees. 

Healthcare Training Hub - The SVHEC’s Center of Nursing Excellence is now the “Healthcare Training Hub@SVHEC," rebranded to reflect its role as the only regional simulation training center collaborating with and serving the training needs of both education and industry. The  Healthcare Training Hub provides students access to advanced facilities and equipment to prepare for careers including nursing, medical assisting, and emergency medicine technician practice. Using simulation technology, the Healthcare Training Hub enables students to practice clinical skills in a safe environment and earn required clinical hours.

• Simulation lab with medical equipment, supplies, and high-fidelity patient simulation manakins for clinical or surgical scenarios;

• Trained simulation educators and IT staff;

• Debriefing area equipped with video and audio playback of conducted simulations;

• State-of-the-art classroom; and

• Five-bed skills lab replicating a hospital setting.

Career Tech Academy:  In partnership with DCC, SVCC, and three public school divisions (Charlotte, Halifax, and Mecklenburg), the SVHEC operates the Career Tech Academy (CTA) offering high school juniors and seniors high-quality technical training for in-demand fields. CTA students spend half of each school day at the SVHEC campus in one of six programs,  Information Technology, Energy Systems Technology, Welding, Automation & Robotics, HVAC, or the Work-based Learning Experience (WBLE). WBLE is open to students who complete one year in another CTA program and want to gain work experience through year-long internships, registered apprenticeships, job shadowing, or mentorships combined with classroom career preparation. CTA students earn college credit and industry certifications.

Partnerships with Industry:  The SVHEC’s Workforce Training team works closely with regional industry partners to develop and deliver high-quality workforce training. The SVHEC developed the Welding@SVHEC, HVAC, advanced manufacturing, and IT Academy programs with industry input and support, and offers customized training solutions at the employer's location or at the SVHEC, depending on the employer’s needs. SVHEC Workforce Training programs enable businesses to leverage resources and avoid lost production time when onboarding or upskilling employees. As valued stakeholders, industry representatives and business owners also serve on the SVHEC’s Board of Trustees and advisory committees for SVHEC programs.

Supporting Students to Ensure Success

The Office of Learner Success and Engagement (OLSE) is the first stop for most individuals who come to the SVHEC to enroll in for-credit post-secondary or workforce training programs. OLSE staff offer program and career information, provide enrollment services for SVHEC Workforce Training programs, and connect students seeking for-credit programs with educational partners. Individuals may also receive referrals for tutoring and academic support to the OLSE’s Volunteer Literacy Program or SVCC's onsite GED program. The OLSE team launched Campus Connect @SVHEC in fall 2024 to build community and foster a sense of belonging among students, both factors shown to contribute to student success.

The SVHEC Finance staff connect Workforce Training students with financial assistance resources, a critical service since these noncredit programs are not eligible for traditional forms of financial aid. SVHEC Workforce Training students may apply for scholarships through the SVHEC’s onsite partner, Southern Virginia Higher Education Foundation, the Region 8 Workforce Investment Board for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds, and the New Economy Workforce Credentials Grant program, and other sources.

The SVHEC ensures that working adults can pursue workforce training by offering day and evening classes. Flexible scheduling also includes online options for some programs. Campus computer labs and the SVHEC IT network are available to SVHEC students and those enrolled with SVHEC partner institutions.

SVHEC Business Model

Funding has the greatest impact on the agency's ability to develop and deliver its products and services. SVHEC leadership continues to monitor and adjust the agency’s business model to remain on the path to sustainability. This is challenging when the higher education industry is experiencing dramatic changes, including economic uncertainties and changing demographics that adversely impact enrollments. General operating funds, as well as funds for additional technology, program development, marketing, furnishings, and personnel, continue to be the SVHEC’s greatest need.

The agency’s state appropriation is and will continue to be the primary source of funding. In addition to state funds, the SVHEC receives grants, donations, and operating funds from Halifax County and the Town of South Boston. The SVHEC uses a partner affiliation fee model to more fairly and equitably cover agency resources expended in providing services to partners and students. Workforce training program cost models are reviewed regularly to ensure that costs are covered through tuition.

Other strategic initiatives undertaken by the SVHEC to support operations and ensure the Center’s sustainability include: 1) increasing facility usage through marketing the SVHEC's meeting and conference facilities; 2) operating the fee-for-service Pearson VUE™ Testing Center; 3) offering fee-for-service product design and development services through the SVHEC’s ProductWorks department; 4) developing and providing fee-based noncredit workforce training programs in response to industry need, 5) Providing administrative support for the Cardinal program a fee-for-service basis; and 6) developing the annual fundraising needs assessment to the SVHEC’s partner and benefactor, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Foundation.

Planning for Future Growth

A Master Facilities Plan completed in June 2022 recommended changes to accommodate future growth. Recommendations including the Master Technology Plan and department-level safety plans (Operations, ProductWorks, and Workforce) have been completed.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) provides cutting-edge, reliable, and sustainable technologies to meet the needs of students, faculty, partner institutions, and staff. The SVHEC campus is comprised of three renovated historic industrial buildings in downtown South Boston, interconnected with a 10GB fiber optic LAN Infrastructure or 1GB Wireless Point-to-Point infrastructure. These buildings house state-of-the-art workforce training labs, classrooms, and meeting spaces equipped with advanced technology.

The SVHEC Innovation Center (IC) features six specialized labs: Welding@SVHEC Levels 1-3, Welding@SVHEC Level 4 Fabrication (stainless steel and aluminum), Welding Simulation, Industrial Maintenance/Mechatronics, Industrial Technology & Energy, and Automation & Robotics. The IC also contains the 80-seat tiered “executive classroom” outfitted with dual high-definition, digital AV presentation technology, three computer classroom labs and a flexible learning classroom, 3D printers, and program-specific equipment.

The Bruce Street building is home to the IT Academy (ITA), the Healthcare Training Hub@SVHEC (HTH), and the HVAC Lab. The ITA features a 1,250-square-foot student-operated data center, network hardware, fiber optic and copper connections, an IT security learning lab, cloud Infrastructure, and computer repair labs. The ITA is expanding its curriculum to include Azure cloud infrastructure and AI integration. The Healthcare Training Hub (HTH) is a premier regional healthcare education center with advanced simulation labs, debriefing areas, and skills labs replicating hospital environments. In 2022, the HTH's equipment and facilities were updated. The HVAC lab, opened in 2023, providing hands-on training with operational equipment representing many current HVAC systems.

ProductWorks, located at the Imperial Lofts building, serves regional manufacturers with CAD/CAM design, planning, prototyping, and small production run services using advanced CAD/CAM technologies.

The SVHEC's IT infrastructure includes a 10GB fiber network with virtualized server environment, campus-wide LAN with enterprise-grade wireless, over 350 student computers, and 30 classrooms equipped with HD digital AV systems. Cybersecurity has been strengthened with the implementation of Microsoft Defender and PDQ Detect, ensuring timely alerts to the IT department regarding security threats. SVHEC is looking for funding to hire a dedicated IT Cybersecurity Analyst to bolster defenses and ensure compliance with industry regulations. Future IT priorities include acquiring a next-generation generator, upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E & 7 technology, and upgrading switches from 10GB to 25GB to support future cloud computing needs.

Through interagency collaboration, the SVHEC’s dual Internet service providers’ redundant high-availability circuits provide access to multiple distance education classes from educational partners.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center workforce is susceptible to future talent loss associated with top leaders approaching retirement and the difficulty of replacing highly-skilled workers, should they choose to relocate or leave. Executive leadership has prioritized succession planning and ongoing professional development to mitigating these impacts. All full-time staff have received project management training and are regularly called on to participate in cross-functional project teams. 

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) is housed in three facilities totaling 106,230 square feet. These buildings are two former tobacco processing facilities and one former textile manufacturing facility. The buildings were renovated using historical tax credits and grant funds, including grants from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. 

Because the SVHEC’s facilities were originally built in the 1800s, with one building renovated in 2001, the second in 2010, and the third in 2019, access to facility maintenance and replacement funds is critical to maintaining the buildings’ mechanical and physical infrastructure.

TECHNICAL PROGRAM CHALLENGE:  The SVHEC responds to employer demand for technically skilled workers by developing and delivering non-degree training programs conferring industry-approved, stackable-credentials. These programs are producing increasing numbers of in-demand credentials and putting Southern Virginians to work in well-paying jobs within the region. Maintaining technical training programs requires specialized and costly equipment, materials, and lab spaces. Recruiting instructors who possess both technical experience and classroom competency is challenging.

Because of the "hands on" nature of technical training, these programs do not facilitate large enrollments; therefore, the level of program-generated revenue is limited. Raising tuition, in some cases to a breakeven amount, would price most students out of the programs. While financial assistance resources like the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program reduce financial barriers for students, the agency is still challenged to find a comprehensive way to sustain these in-demand programs in the face of high costs. Overcoming this challenge is vital for the agency to meet the growing need for skilled workers in Southern Virginia.

ABILITY TO MEET SALARY COMPETITION FOR TECHNICAL INSTRUCTORS AND STAFF: Recruiting and retaining technical instructors, technicians, and staff have become increasingly difficult. While DHRM’s lifting of the 10% annual salary increase cap provides more flexibility, ultimately the agency’s budget limits its ability to compete with private sector salaries for technical instructor and staff positions. As long as industry demand for and ability to pay top wages for technically-skilled workers continues to grow, the agency's ability to adequately staff training programs is at risk. 

PARTNER OFFERINGS:  Like the SVHEC, the agency’s degree-granting partners are adjusting to changes in the higher education environment. Both two- and four-year educational partners are struggling to adjust to declining student enrollment and decreasing revenue, both heavily impacted by the pandemic. Rather than maintaining an onsite SVHEC presence, some partners have responded by shifting to online education to meet the needs of students in outlying areas. While cost-efficient, this modality is not ideal for many Southern Virginia students who often lack the hardware, software or high-speed connectivity required to reliably access online programs. The agency’s two community college partners are in the higher education sector that experienced the steepest enrollment declines. Each experienced lay-offs and were forced to significantly reduce degree offerings. Enrollments have been creeping up, but the enrollment "cliff," a steep drop in the number of students of the age to enter college, is on the horizon. That demographic shift will have serious enrollment implications for the SVHEC's partners.

PERSONNEL:  The SVHEC’s continued success is directly associated with maintaining the agency’s unique and talented complement of staff. Because the agency is small, however, the talent bench is not deep. Combined with the fact that 70 percent of the SVHEC’s key leadership is within five years of retirement, the agency is vulnerable to an approaching talent loss. Another personnel-related vulnerability relates to the significant percentage (50 percent) of full-time positions that continue to be compensated through non-general funding – grants and other  non-recurring funding that will expire in the next several years. The uncertainty of funding to compensate these full-time employees puts the SVHEC at additional risk of losing essential human capital. These are the individuals that drive the agency’s mission-critical programs and services. 

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center’s (SVHEC) facilities, operations, and services are supported by both general and nongeneral fund dollars. General fund appropriation supplies approximately 85 percent of the resources required to operate SVHEC facilities and to provide personnel who (a) support SVHEC degree-granting educational partners and their students, (b) deliver customized workforce services to local and regional employers, (c) deliver non-credit credential-based technical training for in-demand regional careers, (d) stimulate awareness and interest in  STEM-H careers through K-12 and (e) provide applied research services to industry. In addition to the General fund appropriation, the Center receives state funds from the Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund, capital maintenance reserve funds, and the New Economy Workforce Credentials Grant program. Nongeneral funds are nonrecurring and are comprised of grants, donations, partner and tenant fees, and fee-based training and services. With the tremendous growth in programs and services being provided at the SVHEC, the demand on nongeneral funds continues to increase.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) relies on the non-general fund revenues obtained through grants from both state and federal agencies, as well as private foundations. Other critical non-general fund sources are revenues earned through services provided such as training for industry workforce, facility usage fee, partner fees, and applied research services to industry. These revenues provide support for key personnel. Developing a skilled workforce and providing applied research services help in the economic growth necessary for the region and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The statistics below show the magnitude of Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) operations and investments supporting education and workforce training activities during FY 2018.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) serves customers in nine distinct but related groups:

1.  Higher Education Institutions - Public and private two and four-year institutions of higher learning - The SVHEC provides vital educational access to an underserved rural population through partnerships and affiliations with degree-granting institutions. SVHEC supports two community colleges serving localities to the east and west of the SVHEC, seven public universities (five working together as a consortium), and two non-degree granting institutions of higher education. Those non-degree granting entities and the SVHEC together form the Southside Higher Education Coalition.

The COVID pandemic accelerated a growing trend among four-year partners to rely on online versus on-campus course offerings to serve SVHEC students. An exception is the Masters in Strategic Communication, which Radford University began offering in a hybrid format in 2022. Students attend class at the SVHEC with the instructor participating virtually. The number of degree-granting partners is expected to remain the same through this biennium.

2.  Higher Education Students - Partner-enrolled students - Through its collaborative relationship with public and private higher education partners, the SVHEC provides degree-seeking students access to higher education programs without leaving the region. The SVHEC’s for-credit education partners offer more than 100 degree, diploma, and certificate options, and provide enrollment, advising, and financial aid services to their students at the SVHEC.

Student enrollments nationwide declined significantly in fall 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While community college enrollment at the SVHEC is trending back up, a recent review of SVHEC’s online four-year enrollment revealed that few, if any, students were utilizing SVHEC facilities or services. The agency has, therefore, discontinued the reporting of online four-year enrollments, focusing instead on assisting students with making connections, online or otherwise, with the four-year partners of their choice. The SVHEC’s Office of Learner Success & Engagement (OLSE) assists students in identifying, selecting, and connecting with four-year partners. In addition, OLSE hosts annual events like the Virgina Tech College and Career Expo to introduce students to four-year opportunities. The number of partner-enrolled students is expected to rise in fiscal year 2025 but may decrease as we reach the enrollment “cliff.”

3. Individuals seeking workforce training programs - The SVHEC facilitates, develops, and delivers noncredit workforce training and career development services with opportunities to obtain third-party, industry-recognized certifications. SVHEC staff analyze regional workforce needs, identify existing training resources, and connect individuals with the training programs they need. Where programs do not already exist, the SVHEC Workforce Development division works collaboratively with education and industry partners to develop and deliver programming needed. The SVHEC offers its own short-duration, noncredit training programs in which students may earn industry-recognized certifications in information technology, welding, HVAC, industrial maintenance/mechatronics, and will be adding new programs and certifications in the new biennium. Workforce training enrollments are expected to continue to rise as regional employers continue to have challenges in finding skilled workers.

4. Student – Regional high school students – The SVHEC Career Tech Academy (CTA) provides high-quality dual enrollment technical education for in-demand careers to high school students from three public high school systems. Students from Charlotte, Halifax, and Mecklenburg County Public Schools spend a portion of each school day at the SVHEC where they may earn college credit, as well as industry-recognized credentials. Upon graduation, these students have three viable options: continue into an advanced credential program at the SVHEC, transfer into a technical community college associate degree program, or enter the workforce. CTA’s program offerings have grown from two at inception (academic year 2018-2019) to the current six. This collaboration between the SVHEC, the local community colleges, and public school systems allows rural students to access training that leads to well-paying jobs. Annual unduplicated CTA enrollment has grown from 30 to 71 in fiscal year 2025 but may be subject to the coming “enrollment cliff.”

5. Student - Regional Prekindergarten-twelfth (PreK-12) grade students - The SVHEC helps prepare the pipeline to post-secondary education and training programs by providing outreach activities, targeting students as early as elementary school. Working with regional public school divisions, higher education partners, and foundations, the SVHEC offers science, technology, engineering, math, and health (STEM-H) experiential learning opportunities to prekindergarten-12th grade (preK-12) students, reaching more than 7,000 students annually.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the SVHEC pivoted to distance learning options including Zoom to provide outreach. In-person outreach activities resumed in fall 2022 and STEM-H outreach efforts across southern Virginia now reach almost 14,000 students annually. This number is expected to continue to grow, although more slowly unless new investments are made by all collaborative partners in the regional outreach activities.

6. Employer/Business Owner - Regional employers -

The SVHEC provides workforce assessment, consulting, and customized training for regional employers whose sustained competitive advantage depends on a skilled workforce. SVHEC foundational and advanced skills programs prepare individuals with the skills employers need.

The SVHEC IT Academy is an example of meeting employer needs for workforce training. In 2015, the SVHEC responded to employer requests to address the regional shortage of Information Technology (IT) workers. With support from establishing the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission and industry partners, the SVHEC launched the IT Academy and in 2019, expanded it to increase capacity and include new, in-demand course offerings requested by employers. Welding@SVHEC was also established at the request of regional employers (2014) and employer-requested changes have continued to shape program offerings, with the addition of aluminum welding in 2022 and a shift to the  American Welding Society curriculum in fall 2024.

The SVHEC Workforce Training team works with regional industry to tailor training to the employer’s specific needs.  Since completing a multi-year pilot "customized" training program to meet the needs of one of Halifax County’s largest manufacturers (over 400 employees were trained), the SVHEC has developed relationships with additional industry partners seeking customized training. In FY 2024, new registered apprenticeship training programs were developed for one of Halifax County’s largest employers. Programs will continue to be added as employer need warrants. The number of regional employers served by the SVHEC Workforce Training team is expected to grow over the biennium.

7. Manufacturing - Regional industry - The SVHEC’s ProductWorks advances regional industry's competitive capabilities by offering product design and development services as well as small production runs. ProductWorks staff work also with industry and university researchers to develop innovative design, materials, and advanced manufacturing techniques, and to subsequently move them into use by regional industry.

An example of these services is prototyping and fabrication ProductWorks provides for a locally-based, but nationally-known high performance automotive engineering and manufacturing company, TMI Autotech, Incorporated (South Boston, VA). ProductWorks staff is fluent in computer-aided design/computer-assisted manfacturing (CAD/CAM) and has expertise with advanced technology machining equipment, including three- and five-axis routers and a Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) water jet, making it possible to produce parts efficiently and to specification for TMI’s high performance vehicles. Ability to acquire these parts quickly and in a cost-effective manner allows TMI to minimize the time to commercialization for its products. The number of ProductWorks’ business and industry clients is projected to increase in the next biennium with additional staff coming on board. The number of manufacturers served by the ProductWorks team is expected to grow over the biennium.

8. Organization - Regional organizations - Regional organizations, including businesses, localities, educators, community-based organizations, and professional groups utilize the SVHEC’s facilities for educational, civic, and community-building events. The SVHEC provides a reservation-based system and a full spectrum of services and equipment are available. The number of organizations using the SVHEC facilities is expected to increase in the new biennium with COVID-19 protocols relaxing and a return of community engagement.The number of regional organizations using SVHEC facilities is expected to remain the same over the biennium.

9. Consumer - Attendees at regional organization events

Over 1,200 individuals annually attend events held by the SVHEC, its partners, businesses, community-based organizations, and professional organizations at the SVHEC. This number is expected to increase with COVID-19 protocols relaxing. This number is expected to remain the same in this biennium.

Turnkey operations: Facilities, technology, and support services

By providing “turnkey operations” for degree-granting partners, the SVHEC makes it financially feasible for them to bring high-demand degree programs to Southern Virginia. The SVHEC provides facilities, technology, equipment, and a complete array of operations services including front desk, operations, IT, security, and custodial support. Education partners have access to more than 100,000 square feet of technologically-advanced space including classrooms with networked personal computers and digital audio-visual projection systems, labs featuring advanced machining and simulation technology, and a tiered conference center with dual high definition (HD) projection systems and digital audio-visual presentation capabilities. Facilities, equipment, and services are continually upgraded to meet the needs of degree-granting partners and their students.

Access to Partner Programs and Student Supports

By making it financially and logistically feasible for accredited education partners to operate at the SVHEC, the agency affords the region’s citizens access to more than 100 degree and credit-based certificate programs. Instead of leaving the region for higher education, southern Virginia students can complete degree programs where they live and work.

Technical Training and Certifications

The SVHEC's slate of training programs in high-demand areas such as welding, HVAC, industrial maintenance, and information technology enable the agency to meet regional employer needs. Training is offered on a compressed schedule, allowing employers to rapidly fill new jobs or upgrade existing ones. For program participants who are out-of-work, short-duration training also means getting back into the workforce quickly. Training is developed around real-world, practice-based exercises so program completers offer employers an immediate "value-add" when they are hired. Credentials are stackable and can be built up over time to increase job qualifications supporting a sequenced career path. The SVHEC continues to build capacity in its non-degree programs and is working with its degree-granting partners to develop agreements to award college credit for SVHEC training program. 

Customized workforce training solutions

The SVHEC’s Workforce Training team works with business and industry to tailor solutions to meet workforce needs. Customized training programs to address employer-requested skills are offered on-site in the workplace or at the SVHEC Innovation Center with flexible scheduling to minimize production time lost to training.

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Healthcare (STEM-H) Education and Career Outreach to Prekindergarten-12th (PreK-12)

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center recognizes that developing strong education and career pathways is key to preparing individuals for living-wage jobs and building workforce capacity in Southern Virginia. To develop these pathways, the agency develops and delivers outreach initiatives, especially focused on high-need science, technology, engineering, math, and health (STEM-H) occupations, to the region’s PreK-12 grade students. In the post-COVID 2022-24 biennium, the agency is refocusing and redoubling increasing STEM-H outreach to reach more students.

Product Design & Development Services

The SVHEC’s ProductWorks provides affordable, business-boosting research and development services to help regional industry and entrepreneurs succeed. ProductWorks staff advise industries and entrepreneurs on technology adoption, provide short production runs and offer proof-of-concept services. ProductWorks also collaborates regularly with the Commonwealth’s research universities on a variety of energy efficient construction materials projects.

Facility and support services to business and community-based organizations

The SVHEC provides conference facilities, meeting space, and services on a fee basis for businesses and community-based organizations for conferences, meetings, workshops, training, and other events.

The SVHEC continues to do what it does best:  collaborate, innovate, and educate. Leadership monitors the changing higher education, economic, social, and political environment, and adjusts programs and services to continue to meet the needs of students and regional employers. One such change is the shift in thinking by educators, legislators, employers, and parents away from the “college for all” mindset. Many college graduates collect degrees and debt but not jobs, while well-paying skilled jobs not requiring a degree go unfilled in southern Virginia. The SVHEC recognized the value of technical training more than a decade ago and has made significant contributions to the region’s skilled workforce.

The SVHEC's Career Tech Academy (CTA) has grown in programs and in enrollments. in academic year 2023-2024, 71 high school students took one of the six CTA technical training tracks (Information Technology, Energy Systems, Welding, Automation & Robotics, HVAC, and Work-based Learning Experience, earning college credit and 342 industry certifications. Of the students who graduated in spring 2024, approximately half have gone on to a degree-program with a college or university. At least six were hired by regional employers with whom they had completed an internship or registered apprenticeship. 

Despite the growth in CTA enrollments, many students and their parents are unaware of the career and technical education (CTE) resources available to them at no cost. In October 2023, the SVHEC partnered with the three CTA public school divisions (Halifax, Charlotte, and Mecklenburg), the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, the Halifax Industrial Development Authority, and regional employers to host the "Community Call to Action: CTA Showcase." Hosted on the SVHEC campus, the event was attended by over 200 students and their parents who saw toured the CTA labs, spoke with instructors, staff, current students, and employers, and were provided CTE resources.  The CTA Showcase was held again in October 2024 with even higher attendance. 

In addition the the CTA expansion, the SVHEC adult Workforce Training programs grew. The agency developed new technical training programs, several in collaboration with its education partners, to meet regional employers’ needs and launch students on the path to in-demand careers. SVHEC Workforce Training programs expanded customized training to serve additional employers with programs ranging from New Hire Onboarding to Control Wire Training to GMAW Welding.

Danville Community College (DCC) brought its Emergency Medical Technician, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, and Industrial Maintenance Mechanic workforce training programs to the SVHEC campus. The SVHEC entered into agreements with Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) to offer the Welding@SVHEC program on a for-credit basis, while maintaining the option for students to continue to enroll on a noncredit basis. The Welding@SVHEC program also began using the American Welding Society curriculum and assessments in fall 2024. The Workforce Training staff became a Propane Energy Research Council (PERC)-approved training site and SVHEC instructional staff received PERC training to prepare for incorporating propane handling and installation into the HVAC curriculum. In fiscal year 2024, over 200 adult workforce training students earned 240 certifications in information technology, mechatronics, HVAC, welding, and industrial maintenance. 

A positive, yet unanticipated consequence of certifications attainment through the SVHEC’s technical training programs, is the tendency for non-degree students to continue their higher education pursuits into degree programs. As non-degree students succeed in technical training programs, they become more confident in their ability to perform in the higher education setting and more proficient in their job positions. As a result, many seek additional post-secondary opportunities in degree programs. The SVHEC's community college partners are making this easier by developing articulation agreements that give credit for certifications earned in non-degree SVHEC programs. Partner enrollments, which had plummeted during the pandemic, have been on the rise and are now almost at pre-pandemic levels.

In early 2025, the SVHEC will open a new Learning Resource Center (LRC) on its campus to support students in their education or training journeys. The LRC is supported by the Southern Virginia Higher Education Foundation, Sentara Corporation, and Microsoft. A grant request to the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission is currently under review.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) increases access to affordable and relevant post-secondary education and workforce training in southern Virginia through partnerships with degree-granting educational institutions and by developing its own technical training programs.

Education and training opportunities are made affordable for the region’s citizens through the Center’s collaboration with Danville Community College’s federal TRIO grant team, the Southern Virginia Higher Education Foundation (SVHEF), the Commonwealth’s New Economy Workforce Credential Grant program, the Region 8 Workforce Investment Board, the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and other scholarship providers.

The SVHEC and partners use data-driven analyses based on current and projected labor market data and input from regional industry to ensure program offerings remain relevant. Where programs do not exist to meet identified need, the SVHEC works with industry to develop and offer programs. This goal aligns with the agency's mission of "advancing the region's economic potential through education, collaboration, and innovation" by investing in the region's human capital.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center takes a collaborative and regional approach to developing strategies to increase the number of people seeking and obtaining higher education degrees. Increases in the number of post-secondary for-credit enrollments and degrees obtained will reflect advances made in removing barriers and improving access.

• The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center’s (SVHEC) Leadership Team

• Assesses current educational access provided by partners at the SVHEC;
• Conducts gap analyses to identify and compare regional educational needs with the programs currently offered;
• Develops effective strategies for filling identified gaps by leveraging resources across the four institutions; and
• Maximizes the use of technology to increase access.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) collaborates with strong public and private education and industry partners to training to align southern Virginia’s citizens’ skills with current and anticipated employer demands. These strategic efforts are transforming Southern Virginia to become a region where current industries thrive, new industries seek to locate, and individuals can work in family-sustaining jobs.

Increasing the number of assessment-based, third-party industry-recognized certifications earned by southern Virginia citizens demonstrates translates to elevated workforce preparedness. Certifications demonstrate to employers that job applicants have tangible skills and are job-ready.

• The SVHEC’s Workforce Development department collaborates with higher education and industry partners to identify skills needed and to offer education and training programs conferring certifications to meet those needs.

• Where programming is not available to meet identified needs, the SVHEC develops programming to address the need.

• The SVHEC works to find solutions to reduce or remove financial barriers for students pursuing non-credit workforce training conferring certifications, since traditional sources of financial aid are usually available only to support for-credit enrollments. The SVHEC encourages industry to participate in developing workforce training funding assistance solutions.

Students must be adequately prepared from an early age in order to achieve post-secondary and workplace success. The SVHEC partners with regional education systems, post-secondary education and training institutions, and industry in outreach activities to increase students’ awareness of regional career opportunities and the education pathways to reach them. This goal aligns with the SVHEC's mission of "advancing the region's economic potential" by priming the education and workforce training pipeline.

Increasing outreach initiatives increases opportunity for successfully strengthen education to career pathways.

• The SVHEC partners with three public school divisions and two community colleges to provide high school juniors and seniors access to high-quality technical training for high-demand careers through the Career Tech Academy (CTA). The CTA is a model initiative for strengthening education and career pathways. CTA students spend part of each public school instructional day on the SVHEC campus in training programs that lead to assessment-based, industry-recognized credentials, hands-on skills, and work readiness. After completing a CTA program, students are prepared enter the workforce or continue in a degree program.

• The SVHEC partners with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) to hold two regional Career ChoICE Expos each year to showcase regional career opportunities and connect students with employers. Students receive resource booklets with information about regional careers and pathways for entry. The Career ChoICE Expos reach 7,500 students annually.

• The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) develops and provides other year-round educational program initiatives, including summer camps, in science, technology, engineering, math, and healthcare (STEM-H) at the SVHEC for Prekindergarten-12th grade students.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) recognizes the importance of the advanced manufacturing sector to the region’s economy. Its ProductWorks division is raising the sector’s competitive capabilities, providing access to applied research knowledge and advanced design and production technologies. This goal aligns with the SVHEC's mission of "advancing the region's economic potential" with innovative solutions.

Increasing the number of businesses assisted will increase the regional advanced manufacturing sector’s competitive capabilities and contribute to regional prosperity.

• ProductWorks provides design, prototyping,production, and consulting services to the region’s manufacturers to bridge gaps in resources and knowledge and to leverage expertise and advanced technology assets.

• ProductWorks collaborates with industry and university researchers to develop innovative design, materials, and advanced manufacturing techniques, and to subsequently move them into use by regional industry.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) is committed to excellence in fiscal stewardship and fosters a long-term sustainable business model. Since its inception in 1986, the SVHEC has grown to be a vital economic driver, delivering educational and workforce benefits extending beyond southern Virginia to the entire Commonwealth. The agency’s ability to continue providing these benefits depends on adequate funding and good fiscal stewardship. Since becoming a state agency in 2005, SVHEC leadership has steadily improved the Center’s financial position and pursued a sustainable business model. Achieving a long-term sustainable business model will require continued diligence, innovative thinking, and flexibility, especially in response to rapid and unforeseen changes in the business and economic environment.

Southern Virginia Higher Education Center staff practice good fiscal and resource stewardship to maximize post-secondary education and workforce training achievements the agency. The objective for this goal is to maintain the ratio of classroom instructional hours costs to course completions in the SVHEC’s Workforce Training programs, thereby contributing to the continued long-term fiscal stability of the Center. This is challenging because technical training programs are comparatively more expensive to operate than traditional higher education courses. Inflation such as that seen in this biennium adversely impacts this measure, despite excellent performance outcomes.

• The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center has in place policies to ensure that all spending commitments are analyzed and reviewed prior to expenditure.

• Cost modeling is used regularly to set make programmatic decisions such as tuition rates and enrollment targets.

• Program performance outcomes are reviewed regularly so that adjustments may be made.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) builds critical workforce capacity in rural Southern Virginia, a historically underserved region, by providing affordable access to comprehensive post-secondary education and training opportunities. For 33 years the SVHEC has brokered unique academic and industry partnerships, leveraging resources to overcome barriers to economic advancement.

By partnering with two and four-year colleges and universities, the SVHEC provides access to a comprehensive range of educational choices, from GED to PhD. In providing facilities and a full array of support services for for-credit degree-granting institutions of higher education, the SVHEC makes it possible for those institutions to bring their programs to Southern Virginia. Facilities available to education partners include classroom, administrative and meeting space. The SVHEC's Center of Nursing Excellence (CNE) also supports regional partner health professions training programs with high-definition simulation training.

The SVHEC Workforce Development division works with industry and educational partners to identify areas of unmet need in workforce training and where that need cannot be met by other institutions, the SVHEC develops and delivers the training. Students in the SVHEC’s Workforce Training programs earn industry-recognized, stackable credentials through SVHEC non-credit programs in welding, mechatronics, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), information technology, and work ready foundations.

Today's SVHEC provides access to post-secondary education and training access to approximately 1,200 partner-enrolled students annually and to 550 individuals enrolled in SVHEC noncredit workforce training programs conferring industry-recognized credentials. This is a sea change from three decades ago when residents of Southern Virginia had little or no access to affordable post-secondary advancement opportunities within the region.

Recognizing the importance of building the educational and workforce pipeline, the SVHEC Student and Partner Advancement division delivers technology, engineering, mathematics, and healthcare (STEM-H) outreach services to Prekindergarten-12th grade students in the region's public schools. Over 6,000 students annually participate in SVHEC outreach activities and events.

Through its Research and Development Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Efficiency, the SVHEC support regional business and industry, providing human capital and advanced manufacturing solutions for design and production needs. The R&D Center also collaborates with the Commonwealth’s research universities on applied research projects in advanced manufacturing techniques and energy efficient building materials.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) was created through § 23.1-3120 of the Code of Virginia. The SVHEC, previously established as an off-campus center of Longwood University, was continued as an educational institution in the Commonwealth to:

1. Encourage the expansion of higher education, including adult and continuing education and associate, undergraduate, and graduate degree programs in the region and foster partnerships between the public and private sectors to enhance higher education in the Southside region;

2. Coordinate the development and delivery of continuing education programs offered by the educational institutions serving the region;

3. Facilitate the delivery of teacher training programs leading to licensure and graduate degrees;

4. Serve as a resource and referral center by maintaining and disseminating information on existing educational programs and resources; and

5. Develop, in coordination with the Council, specific goals for higher education in Southside Virginia.

Through partnerships with the SVHEC's education, industry, workforce development, and coalition partners, and by providing a high quality educational facility with state of the art technology, support staff, meeting space and conference rooms for community, regional and state use, the SVHEC expands access to a broad range of post-secondary education and training programs for the citizens of Southern Virginia. SVHEC programs and services serve to promote economic development, economic vitality, and quality of life for the region’s citizens. 

Description of Major Products and Services

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) provides the following core services:

  For-credit programming that affords access to numerous degree and certificate programs through affiliations with accredited education partners and the SVHEC's partners in the Southside Higher Education Coalition;

  Support services including administrative, technology, custodial services, conference space logistics, and provision of information to students and educational partners;

  Programming and support for workforce training leading to third-party, industry-recognized credentials including welding, mechatronics, "heating, ventilation, and air conditioning" (HVAC), offered at the SoVA Center for Manufacturing Excellence (SoVA CME)  and information technology training, provided at the SVHEC's Information Technology (IT) Academy. The SVHEC's Center of Nursing Excellence (CNE) provides training and a full-service simulation center for education partners' health professions programs and industry workforce training.

  Customized workforce training tailored to meet industry needs and available on-site in the workplace or at the SVHEC Innovation Center.

  "Transfer of Technology" services through the SVHEC's Research & Development Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Energy Efficiency (R&D CAMEE) advanced manufacturing applied research and development services, including design, prototyping, fabrication, and training for regional business and industry;

  Outreach programming and support for programs to engage Prekindergarten-12th grade (PreK-12) in science, technology, engineering, math, and healthcare (STEM-H) academic and career pathways;

  Facility and support services to business and community-based organizations for conferences, meetings, workshops, training, and other events.

The SVHEC is equipped and staffed to support its current educational partners and their programs, with capacity to add partners and programs. The agency is a leader in advanced manufacturing training and applied research, and has made significant investments in this area.

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center’s (SVHEC) facilities, operations, and services are supported by both general and nongeneral fund dollars. General fund appropriation supplies approximately 47 percent of the resources required to operate SVHEC facilities and to provide personnel who (a) support SVHEC degree-granting educational partners and their students, (b) deliver customized workforce services to local and regional employers, (c) deliver non-credit credential-based technical training for in-demand regional careers, (d) stimulate awareness and interest in  STEM-H careers through K-12 and (e) provide applied research services to industry. In addition to the General fund appropriation, the Center receives state funds from the Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund, capital reserve funds, and the New Economy Workforce Credentials Grant program. Nongeneral funds are nonrecurring and are comprised of grants, donations, partner and tenant fees, and fee-based training and services. With the tremendous growth in programs and services being provided at the SVHEC, the demand on nongeneral funds continues to increase.