Atuação das bancas de heteroidentificação da UFJF: um estudo de caso

Abstract

The research investigated the role of heteroidentification committees within the ethnic-racial subquota policy at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF), using a qualitative approach. The aim was to analyze the processes adopted by these committees in verifying the racial self-identification of candidates applying for reserved spots for Black and Brown students, as established by Laws No. 12.711/2012 and No. 14.723/2023. The theoretical framework addressed topics such as racial discrimination, institutional racism, and prejudice in the university environment, based on authors such as Freire (2001), Santana and Aquino (2009), Gonçalves (2015), Santos Filho (2016), Vaz (2018), Correa and Siquelli (2022), and Almeida (2023). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with candidates approved between 2022 and 2023 and with committee members. Candidates expressed dissatisfaction with the transparency and consistency of the phenotypic evaluation criteria, while committee members highlighted the need for stronger institutional support, ongoing training, and procedural standardization. The research also identified weaknesses in the dissemination of public notices, the composition of the committees (with a predominance of white members), and the issuance of decisions, which do not require consensus among evaluators. As a result, a Strategic Action Plan was proposed to improve the committees’ performance, including standardization of ethnic-racial evaluation criteria, continuous training for members, clearer public notices, informative campaigns, creation of monitoring indicators, and institutional channels for complaints and inquiries. It was concluded that although heteroidentification committees are essential tools for ensuring equity in affirmative actions, they still face operational and conceptual challenges that hinder their effectiveness. Consolidating a fairer system requires continuous review, clear criteria, and institutional policies that reinforce their legitimacy. Preliminary results revealed challenges related to public notice dissemination, training and composition of the committees, and issuance of decisions. Despite significant institutional progress, adjustments are still needed to ensure the proper implementation of the Quota Law and equitable access to university placements.