The Mission at Dickenson Center for Education and Research is to provide a facility that will meet the higher educational and work force training needs of the citizenry.  Through programs offered by Southwest Virginia and Mountain Empire Community Colleges the facility will provide workforce development for new careers, access to higher education for graduating high school students and adults, retraining opportunities for existing mining and gas industries and GED programs for adults. Opportunities will also be explored with four year colleges to offer special programs of study for those wishing to pursue a four year degree.