Chronopolitics of Time: Delays, Power, and Inequality in Higher Education

Abstract

Often seen as technical issues, delays profoundly shape higher education by reinforcing structural inequalities and asserting temporal control. This position paper examines how waiting affects access to academic resources, administrative services, and learning opportunities—especially for marginalized, international, and socioeconomically disadvantaged students. It identifies three key dimensions: temporal asymmetries that perpetuate inequality; cultural and psychological meanings associated with waiting; and the strategic use of delays as instruments of institutional power. In contexts such as enrollment, grading, or pedagogical access, delays can compromise student well-being, sense of belonging, and academic success. Drawing from immigration, labor, and geopolitics, the position paper reframes delays as socially constructed. It calls for inclusive, time-sensitive policies to foster equity in globalized academic settings.