The Rector and University Council initiated the establishment of the Provost of Inclusion and Belonging of University of São Paulo (USP) in 2022. Creation of the Office allowed the University to provide an institutional and political space for organising different aid programs. Provost of Inclusion and Belonging supports persons with disabilities, low-income students, first generation students, students/staff with refugee or migrant backgrounds, LGBTQ students/staff, staff/students of colour, women and indigenous peoples. These equity groups were identified through national plan/legislation, the University’s internal policies, based on relevant academic and policy research, proposed by students, and suggested by community, citizens, and other external stakeholders USP has quota policies for black, brown and public school students. Office for the Management of Academic Performance Indicators – Institutional Research Office (EGIDA) data indicate that, in 2015, there were 77.4% active white students and 15.6% black and brown students. In 2022, the number of black and brown students rose to 22.6% , indicating that the vacancy reservation policies in that period had concrete effects.

The Rector and University Council initiated the establishment of the Provost of Inclusion and Belonging of University of São Paulo (USP) in 2022. Creation of the Office allowed the University to provide an institutional and political space for organising different aid programs.

Provost of Inclusion and Belonging supports persons with disabilities, low-income students, first generation students, students/staff with  refugee or migrant backgrounds, LGBTQ students/staff, staff/students of colour, women and indigenous peoples. These equity groups were identified through national plan/legislation, the University’s internal policies, based on relevant academic and policy research, proposed by students, and suggested by community, citizens, and other external stakeholders 

USP has quota policies for black, brown and public school students. Office for the Management of Academic Performance Indicators – Institutional Research Office (EGIDA) data indicate that, in 2015, there were 77.4% active white students and 15.6% black and brown students. In 2022, the number of black and brown students rose to 22.6% , indicating that the vacancy reservation policies in that period had concrete effects.

The creation of the Provost of Inclusion and Belonging in 2022 was a way for the University to provide an institutional and political space to address the demands that accompany inclusion policies and the university as a whole in the early 21st century: mental health, promotion of human rights, coexistence conflicts, and assistance programs. Due to a very demanding test called “vestibular”, access to public universities in Brazil is very limited and difficult. In public schools there exists exclusion by both class and race. For these reasons USP came up with strategies to increase diversity in its community, especially among undergraduate students.The Social Inclusion Program (Inclusp) launched in 2006 aimed to increase public school students’ presence. Quota policies were introduced in 2017, with 30% of exam-approved students from public schools by 2009. These decisions transformed student demographics, as indicated by EGIDA data: active white students decreased from 77.4% (2015) to 15.6% (2022), while black and brown students increased to 22.6%. The Provost of Inclusion and Belonging was established in 2022, centralizing efforts and improving support systems, merging aid programs, and facilitating identification of those in need. Alongside quotas, financial aid became crucial in USP’s diversity policy, overcoming economic barriers. The university’s tuition-free nature is vital, and additional financial aid ensures economically disadvantaged students can thrive, providing R$ 800.00 monthly support for their education in 2023. Provost of Inclusion and Belonging doesn’t only propose policies solely for students: the goal is to formulate policies for the entire university. Thus, issues related to expanding research topics, mental health for the entire community (students, faculty, staff), promotion of human rights in university interactions – all of them are encompassed within the office’s policy formulation competencies. Provost considers equality and diversity in a broader sense and for the entire university community.

A federal law that regards reserved seats is applied to federal Universities, while USP is a state University and therefore this law doesn’t apply to it.

The Provost of Inclusion and Belonging (PRIP) was created on May 5, 2022. Alongside the Rectorate and the other four Provost’s Offices (Undergraduate Studies, Graduate Studies, Research and Innovation, and Culture and Extension), it forms the central executive bodies of the University of São Paulo. The creation of the Provost of Inclusion and Belonging provides an institutional space for the University of São Paulo to embrace diversity, ensure opportunities, and provide conditions for students, staff, and faculty to have the best academic experience and contribute to the excellence of the university. To achieve this, the Provost was structured into five areas that work in a coordinated manner. They are: Campus Life Women, Ethnic-Racial Relations, Diversities Mental Health and Social Well-being, Human Rights, policies of reparation, memory, Justice Education and Professional Life. Diversity, inclusion, and equality are explicitly mentioned in strategies, policies, and work plans of USP and Provost for Inclusion and Belonging. The Pro-Rectorate of Inclusion and Belonging was created together with a council – a collegiate body, – that makes the most important political decisions. The Council of Inclusion and Belonging (CoIP) is one of the Central Councils of USP. It is responsible, within the framework of superior regulations, for establishing guidelines and striving for excellence in carrying out inclusion, retention, and belonging activities based on diversity and equity. Furthermore, it must continuously promote and respect human rights based on the activities developed by the University of São Paulo. The Council of Inclusion and Belonging is also responsible for establishing guidelines, within the scope of USP, for actions related to: a) gender and ethnic-racial equality; b) inclusion of people with disabilities; c) ensuring mental health for the USP community; d) promoting respect for human rights in university daily life; e) providing sports activities for the USP community; f) granting aids and scholarships related to student retention; g) policies related to student housing, daycare centres, and university restaurants; and the campus prefectures in the interior must follow the guidelines defined by CoIP in managing these facilities. The Council also has the authority to provide opinions on the creation, transformation, and termination of services in the area of Inclusion and Belonging, as well as to define procedures, ensuring the right to be heard and the right to a fair defence, for investigating possible fraud in the university’s inclusion policies. The office is not part of any networks.

The main challenge at this moment, after one year of the creation of the Provost of Inclusion and Belonging, is to consolidate itself institutionally, establish connections and joint actions with other departments of the university, present itself to external institutions, and overcome internal resistance to change. There is a federal tax reform planned for 2023 in Brazil, which could potentially change the funding of the office. However, in general terms, Provost of Inclusion and Belonging budget is relatively stable. The budget is based on the University of São Paulo budget, which is funded by the state of São Paulo. It consists of public funds derived from taxes.

The office has a formal evaluation process. The indicators are currently being developed. Here are some data on beneficiaries of the assistance program: Profile of students benefiting from the PAPFE in 2023: https://public.flourish.studio/story/1947996/