Time-Poverty and the Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Student in Higher Education

Abstract

Time-poverty is an economic concept that is used to account for and further explore the expenditure of time as a percentage of available time, which varies from person to person. This concept can be adapted to better understand the implications of out-of-class time-use expectations on students who have less available time due to work, family care, dis/abilities, sports participation, studying in a second language, or for a variety of other reasons. By considering common rhetoric about time use and time management, and by breaking down time expenditure as a percentage of available time, this chapter suggests the need for educators to take action to minimize the out-of-class work expectations they place on students.