The Dallas County Community Colleges and the Bill J. Priest Institute for Economic Development are teaching, learning, community-building institutions. For the employed person wishing to improve job skills or to move into a new job the colleges offer credit and non-credit adult educational courses. For the person who simply wants to make life a little more interesting the colleges offer continuing education programs on cultural civic and other topics. Additional programs are available for the high school student, dropouts and others with special needs. The colleges help each student design the educational program that best meets individual needs.
Every student is offered advisement to define goals and identify abilities.
Continued guidance is available throughout the student's college career in case goals and plans change. This emphasis on advisement, rare for some institutions, is routine at all District colleges.