Record-high gas prices led a college to move Friday classes online.
Southwest Tennessee Community College announced “Virtual Fridays” for summer classes.
Southwest president Dr. Tracy D. Hall said, “Our students and employees, like the rest of the nation, are facing historic inflation numbers and increasing gas prices.”
She added, “We are concerned about their welfare and how they may be impacted by this increased cost of living. Some of our students and staff are already stretched thin due to previous pandemic challenges.”
Hall continued, “We hope that going virtual on Fridays during summer will provide them with temporary relief from travel-related expenses and help alleviate their pocketbook stress.”
Cory Major, the community college’s vice president of student affairs, explained the move is “going to help all of us, ultimately get over this barrier, this unexpected inflation gate, if you will,” as WREG Memphis reported.
Dr. David Rosenthal, Deputy Chief Information Officer at the college, told the outlet, “Before we started to see the real spike, I was paying $25 to fill up my vehicle. I have a smaller car. Now, twice that at least.”
According to Major, “We looked at the fact we have students who have to make a decision about buying groceries or buying gas.”
The college said student-support services “such as advising and admissions will continue to be available through online appointments, phone and email. The College will return to normal, on-campus operations on Monday, August 15.”
On Friday, Fox News reported some employees are expressing concerns about affording daily commutes to work.
Google Maps workers recently penned a petition, saying the cost of gas took out their paychecks.
“Gas is around $5 per gallon currently,” the petition read.
They added, “And many of us in the office are not able to afford to live close to the office due to our low salaries and the high cost of housing.”
The outlet noted, according to AAA, the national average for a gallon of gas was $4.76 as of Friday.
President Joe Biden suggested during a press conference on Friday “that families who are struggling probably don’t care why the prices are up. They just want them to go down.”
He continued, “But it’s important that we understand the root of the problem. So we can take steps to solve it.”