The Federal University of Acre (Ufac) has established a commission with the objective of investigating the possibility of implementing quotas for transgender people in undergraduate programs. This decision was formally approved by the University Council (Consu) during a meeting held at the main campus in Rio Branco last Wednesday, the 30th.
The designated group has a deadline of ninety days to prepare a detailed proposal containing guidelines for the access and retention policy for these students at the institution. Once the study is finalized, the document will be presented to the Consu for voting, and the policy may only come into effect in 2027 if approved.
The options for distributing vacancies under review include adding supplementary spots to the total number planned for each course, as well as reserving positions within existing classes.
Historical demand from the academic community
Letícia Mamed, Vice-Rector of Affirmative Actions and Equity at Ufac, informed g1 that the commission will examine models used by other universities to determine which format best aligns with the reality of the Federal University of Acre. She emphasized that the primary function of the group is to collect data, establish an accurate diagnosis, and plan solutions appropriate for the institution.
The creation of this group responds to an old request from the university community. According to the vice-rector, this claim was present on the students' agenda during the teachers' strike in 2024 and also in the political plan of the Ufac electoral movement in the first semester of this year, making it a recurring theme in the university's daily life.
Models for quota operation
The commission will analyze two admission schemes already employed by other higher education institutions. One of these models consists of offering extra spots added to the original quantity of each course, while the other reserves a portion of current spots specifically for trans people.
As explained by Letícia Mamed, undergraduate courses at Ufac generally have classes composed of 40 to 45 students. Therefore, the choice of method will depend on the results and diagnosis that the commission is able to produce. She reiterated the need for in-depth studies to define the most appropriate path for the university.
The group will include members from the academic and technical-administrative sectors of Ufac and must maintain dialogue with external entities and civil society organizations that work with the trans population in Acre, citing the Public Defender's Office of the State of Acre (DPE-AC) as an example. In addition to defining entry rules, the commission will also discuss strategies to ensure that these students can complete their studies at the university.
Existing quota policies at Ufac
Since November 2023, Ufac has regulations that provide for affirmative action policies for trans people in postgraduate courses. Resolution Consu No. 162 defines the criteria for reserving spots in specialization, master's, and doctoral selection processes. This rule also covers Black, Quilombola, Indigenous, and people with disabilities, stipulating that postgraduate calls must reserve at least 25% of the spots for the specified affirmative action modalities.
For transgender people, the rule requires a self-declaration upon registration. The document also provides support to students admitted through these reserved spots. The new commission has the task of studying how to expand this policy to undergraduate studies and proposing a plan that respects the specificities of the university, sending the draft for internal analysis after completing the work.