A community college in Tennessee is moving Friday classes online to help cut down on commuting costs for students and staff amid soaring gas prices.
Southwest Tennessee Community College announced it will implement “Virtual Fridays” for the college’s summer classes in a bid to alleviate the financial burden posed by high gas prices nationwide and inflation.
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“To lessen the pain at the pump for students and employees during summer, Southwest will move to Virtual Fridays effective May 27, 2022 – August 12, 2022,” the community college said in a recent statement.
In a statement quoted by WREG Memphis, Cory Major, the community college’s vice president of student affairs, said the once-a-week shift to online classes is “going to help all of us, ultimately get over this barrier, this unexpected inflation gate, if you will.”
“We looked at the fact we have students who have to make a decision about buying groceries or buying gas,” Major said.
The community college has seven different campuses in and around the Memphis area. The switch to Friday virtual instruction will apply to all locations at least through the end of the summer.
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If economic conditions continue to worsen, Major said, virtual classes could end up being a part of the school’s plan for the fall semester.
