Appalachian Center at Hickory (formerly Hickory Metro Higher Education Center) was a collaborative partnership of colleges and universities in western North Carolina. the organization's mission was to support and enhance the educational attainment and economic development of the region by offering a broad range of programming in targeted areas of study for students of all ages through off-campus programs in Hickory, NC.
HMHEC was established in 2003 as a partnership between Appalachian State University, Catawba Valley Community College, and Lenoir-Rhyne College in collaboration with the City of Hickory and Catawba County. Since its establishment, additional colleges and universities in western North Carolina joined the partnership: UNC Chapel Hill; UNC Charlotte; Western Carolina University; Northwest AHEC; Winston-Salem State University; and Mountain State University. In 2009, HMHEC was disbanded and became the Appalachian State University Center at Hickory - part of the Appalachian State University Greater Hickory Partnership.