Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center

10/28/2026

School’s out, but creativity is in! 🎨🔨

Register your fourth through ninth grader for our Make & Create Discovery Day on November 3. Students will spend the day exploring art, design and hands-on projects, from painting a Christmas keepsake to building a birdhouse.

📅 November 3 | 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
💲$30 | Limited seats

A fun and enriching day for students while parents are at work! Register at www.swcenter.edu/discoverydays.

10/27/2026

Working full time, attending school full time, and raising a daughter. Dr. Teresa Vance did all three at once!

As a single mother and the first person in her family to attend college, Teresa knew earning a degree would not be easy. Having access to university programs close to home made it possible. “I’ve always worked full-time and went to school full-time, so driving to Johnson City or farther just wasn’t an option for me.”

Through programs offered at the Higher Education Center, Teresa earned her Family Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees. Today, she cares for patients in her hometown of Meadowview and helps prepare the next generation of nurse practitioners.

For 35 years, stories like Teresa’s have shown why access to education close to home matters.

Did you complete a degree or program at the Higher Ed Center while balancing work or family? We’d love to hear your story.

10/26/2026

STEM fun starts tomorrow! 🔬🚀

There’s still time to register your K–5 student for STEM Academy! Each Tuesday evening, students will explore science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on activities, creative challenges and fun with friends.

📅 Tuesdays, October 27–November 24
🕕 6 p.m.
💲$35 per student

Don’t miss out! Register today: https://www.swcenter.edu/k5stemacademy

10/23/2026

We’re going to be on public television! 🎥

The SWVA Higher Ed Center and our Regional Apprenticeship Program will be featured in an upcoming episode of Life in the Heart Land, a VPM docuseries sharing innovative stories from rural communities.

We were proud to share how Registered Apprenticeship is opening doors to meaningful careers and helping regional employers build their workforce.

Here’s a look behind the scenes! We can’t wait to share the episode with you. In the meantime, learn more at www.swcenter.edu/apprentice.

10/22/2026

Registration is now open for the Workforce Development & Apprenticeship Expansion Summit: Growing the Future Workforce!

Join us December 8 at the SWVA Higher Ed Center for a free event bringing employers, educators, workforce partners and apprentices together to explore how Registered Apprenticeship can strengthen our region’s talent pipeline.

We’re excited to welcome Nicole Overley, Commissioner of Virginia Works, as our keynote speaker. The day will also include employer and apprentice panels, regional discussion and opportunities to make valuable connections.

📅 December 8 | 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Register for free at www.swcenter.edu/summit.

10/21/2026

Learning comes to life at the Higher Ed Center! 🔬

We recently welcomed a local homeschool group to our Anatomage Lab, where students explored the digestive system, learned how cells work, and discussed the important role nutrition plays in the body. With advanced 3D anatomy technology, they were able to see these concepts in an entirely new way.

The Higher Ed Center brings education, technology, and collaboration together to create meaningful learning opportunities for people of all ages. We loved seeing these curious young learners in action!

Learn how your group can use our advanced simulation spaces at www.swcenter.edu/healthcare.

10/20/2026

We’re proud to sponsor the Southwest Virginia AI Student Leadership Symposium on Wednesday, October 28, at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center!

Students, educators, business leaders and community partners will come together to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping learning, careers and the future of Southwest Virginia.

📚 Student Summit: 9–11:45 a.m.
💼 Community Leadership Symposium: 11:45 a.m.–3 p.m.

Business and community leaders are welcome to attend the afternoon session, which includes a working lunch and conversation with students about talent, workforce readiness and regional opportunities.

Registration closes Friday, October 23: https://forms.gle/6jD1e5kJvmFaMZaY6

10/20/2026

Who walks through our doors? 👋

On any given day, it might be a student working toward a degree, an apprentice building a career, a healthcare professional practicing critical skills, a young person discovering something new, a lifelong learner following their curiosity or a group gathering to connect and collaborate.

They arrive for different reasons, but each comes with an opportunity to learn, grow or build something new.
That’s what makes the Higher Ed Center more than a building. It’s a place where Southwest Virginia moves forward.

What brings you through our doors?

10/19/2026

Regional partnerships bring specialized support closer to home.

Thank you to the SwvaSun for highlighting our partnership with Virginia Tech to expand autism support across Southwest Virginia. Through hybrid autism assessments and ECHO Autism4Ed, this work is helping families access evaluations and guidance while equipping educators with practical tools to support autistic students.

Read the full story: https://swvasun.com/virginia-tech-partnership-at-higher-ed-center-expands-autism-support-across-southwest-virginia-p18424-32.htm

Virginia Tech projects increase access to autism assessments and support for educators

10/16/2026

Happy National Boss’s Day to our Executive Director, David Matlock! 💙

Anyone who knows David knows that he brings an incredible amount of energy, enthusiasm and fun to everything he does. He’s a dynamic leader, a genuine champion for his employees and someone who has a gift for getting people excited about their work and the possibilities ahead.

Most importantly, David leads with a servant’s heart and truly cares about the people of Southwest Virginia. We’re grateful to have a leader who believes in his team, celebrates their strengths and never stops cheering on our region.

Happy Boss’s Day, David!