The mission of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (SWVHEC) is to strengthen the regional economy of southwest Virginia by preparing its citizens for jobs of the 21st Century.

The vision of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is to be the national model for collaborative, multi-institutional off-campus higher education, professional development, business assistance services and economic development.

Economic Development:  The SWVHEC serves a catalyst for economic planning and growth in southwest Virginia.

The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center was established by the General Assembly in 1992 to provide undergraduate and graduate degrees, professional development, and economic development opportunities to meet the workforce needs across the region.  Through its partnership with nine colleges and universities, the Center develops degree and training programs that address career shortages, skills enhancement, and other job related challenges.  As the first multi-institutional off campus center in the Commonwealth, the SW VA Higher Education Center has served as a model for future centers of Higher Education throughout the Commonwealth and in other states.



Location-bound, working adults are the primary participants in degree programs at the SW VA Higher Education Center.   Since opening its doors in 1998, more than 2350 students have earned a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree from one of the nine academic partner schools at the Center.  



The SW VA Higher Education Center is located in a 116,000 square-foot facility in Abingdon, VA.  The Center is fully equipped and staffed to support and exceed the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation requirements for off campus programs.  Today, 65% of the degree courses are taught via distance education.  To accommodate the needs of adult students, the majority of courses are offered in the evening and on weekends.  During the day, business and professional organizations hold meetings, conferences and trade shows in the Center’s complex. 

General Information: The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center will continue to partner with colleges and universities to provide degree and credit certificate programs for adult students  to prepare them for top jobs of the 21st century.  The SWVHEC will continue to enhance technology information systems to meet the diverse educational needs of people within Southwest Virginia and seek opportunities to expand our mission.

Over 134 undergraduate, graduate, and credit certificate programs are provided at the Center by nine colleges and universities.  Greater than 65% of courses are delivered through various distance learning technologies. Primary methods of delivery are high-speed videoconferencing, online instruction, and in-class instruction. The Center's IT staff provides comprehensive support to all faculty and students.  Since 1998, thousands of classes have been delivered via technology with minimal loss of interrupted instructional time.   



Additionally, the center operates conference facilities which are used daily by business and industry, government organizations, professional associations, and educational customers. Many of these events have technology needs ranging from A/V and computer equipment to videoconferencing and/or webcasting of multi-day conferences. Numerous regional firms rely on the Center’s videoconferencing capabilities to transact business with clients across the state or around the globe. From legal depositions to international economic development, the Center has quickly become the "high-tech mecca” of southwest Virginia. To continue providing exceptional service to our partner institutions and professional clients requires sequential equipment and software upgrades coupled with a well-trained I.T. staff. Like hardware and software upgrades, our staff needs continuous training to stay abreast of technology innovations.

The primary mission of the Center is to produce an educated and professionally trained workforce to meet the employment needs of regional businesses, government entities, and nonprofit organizations.  Focusing on career driven Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees,  graduates can expand  their job opportunities beyond entry level, lower paying positions to those with increased responsibility and income.   Companies that plan to expand or relocate in Southwest Virginia rely on the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center and its academic partners to provide advanced education, training, and research options within close proximity of their location.  The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, through its nine college and university partners, can easily accommodate their unique needs. 

 

The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is now 26 years old and will continue to need updates and renovations to maintain its current level of exceptional service in the region.  Short term repairs are becoming more frequent and complex. A total window replacement was completed in FY25.

The Southwest Region is geographically removed from the more densely populated areas of the state where most colleges are located.  The Higher Education Center provides a cost effective means by which citizens of the region can advance their career opportunities.  With over 134 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and credit certificates available through nine top ranked colleges and universities in the Commonwealth, location bound adults are able to excel beyond entry level jobs to ones with greater responsibility and higher pay. 

The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center does not confer degrees or employ academic faculty.  Rather, the Center provides space, technology and equipment for top colleges and universities to offer classes.  Students graduate with degrees conferred from these partner institutions.   Because degree majors are aligned with employer needs, the outcomes are significant:  graduates have employment opportunities in the region; employers have access to a talent pool of qualified professionals; and economic developers can recruit new companies. 

The increased availability of on-line courses from across the globe presents a challenge for the Center.  Students can register online and access instructional content from an offsite computer.   To address this challenge, the center now offers more degrees and certificates that require some form of face-to-face instruction.

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  The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center receives both general fund and non-general fund appropriations. The Center’s FY26 General Fund appropriation is $5,599,447. Out of the appropriation, $1,500,000  from the general fund shall be deposited to the Virginia Rural Information Technology Apprenticeship Grant Fund, as established in § 23.1-3129.1 Code of Virginia, for the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis from the Fund to small, rural information technology businesses in qualifying localities to establish apprenticeship programs.  Non-general fund appropriation for FY26 is $1,282,487.  Non-general funds are generated from room rental fees for conferences, trade shows, meetings and special events; fees paid by the partner higher education institutions; and fees paid by participants enrolled in the College for Older Adults.

  
  

The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center receives both general fund and non-general fund appropriations. The Center’s FY26 General Fund appropriation is $5,599,447.  Out of the appropriation, $1,500,000  from the general fund shall be deposited to the Virginia Rural Information Technology Apprenticeship Grant Fund, as established in § 23.1-3129.1 Code of Virginia, for the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis from the Fund to small, rural information technology businesses in qualifying localities to establish apprenticeship programs. Non-general fund appropriation for FY26 is $1,282,847. Non-general funds are generated from room rental fees for conferences, trade shows, meetings and special events; fees paid by the partner higher education institutions; and fees paid by participants enrolled in the College for Older Adults.

Key performance factors for the Southwest Virginia Higher Education center are measured through the number of degree and professional development programs available through the center; the number of proctored tests administered; the number of agencies that book meetings and events in our building; the number of educational partners offering courses through the center. 

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Our products and services fall under three headings:



EDUCATION AND PROCTORED TESTING

Provide Baccalaureate, Master’s and Doctorate Degrees and certificates from nine top universities and colleges located in the Commonwealth.  Offer noncredit Professional Development courses in multiple areas.  Provide a proctored testing center for licensure, certification, and admissions exams. 



CONFERENCE SERVICES

Provide Conference, Meeting, and Special Events space and support services to accommodate small, medium, and large gatherings ranging from 5 participants to 5,000.  Facility is equipped with high speed, broadband internet, WiFi, videoconferencing, computers, professional lighting, and amplification.



ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Center works closely with all educational partners, local economic development agencies and regional business and industry to ensure that all skill gaps are being addressed.  Our goal is to ensure that the Center is in alignment with employers and workforce development needs of our community. 

The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center evaluates the effectiveness and quality of its services through the following performance measures:



Number of Baccalaureate, Masters, and Doctoral and credit certificate programs provided to prepare  graduates for top jobs of the 21st Century



Number of organizations that use the center for meetings, conferences, special events and economic development activities



The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center’s primary mission is to strengthen the economy of southwest Virginia.  The Center’s focus is to contribute to the success of regional businesses, government agencies, schools and professional organizations by preparing the workforce for knowledge-based jobs of the 21st Century; providing a technology-enabled facility for professional development and other events. 



Since the opening of the Center is 1998, over 3000 students have earned undergraduate and graduate degrees through programs offered by nine colleges and universities. Most classes are scheduled in the late afternoon and evening and on weekends to accommodate the needs of working adults.  Contributing to the Center’s success is its innovative use of state-of-the art technology.

Elevate the levels of educational preparedness and degree attainment of citizens in Southwest Virginia. Offer a comprehensive curriculum of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, with classes scheduled year round at times and locations that are convenient for adult students. •Ensure that academic courses are aligned with the current and future employment needs of business and industry in the region.

Ensure that higher education is available to all adult learners in southwest Virginia.

• Work closely with colleges and universities to provide degree programs needed for new and existing business and industry to succeed in southwest Virginia.

Continue to be a model for collaborative off-campus higher education and conference services, both in-state and out-of-state.

The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is an innovative model of efficient, collaborative, off-campus higher education, conference facilities, and business support services. Communities, both in-state and out-of-state, use the SWVHEC as their benchmark of success for similar projects.

In addition to its academic mission, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center strengthens the economy of the region by providing a technology enhanced facility for conferences, trade shows, and numerous other special events. The economic impact of over 1600 events annually has boosted revenues significantly in local hotels, restaurants, the Barter Theatre, and tourist attractions.

• Promote economic development efforts in distressed communities across the Commonwealth to bring new jobs and opportunities, and reduce economic disparity among the various regions.