In this work, we discuss the issue of socioeconomic vulnerability of students at the Federal University of Northern Tocantins (UFNT), without losing sight of the issue of human development based on the theories of Sen (2010). Our focus was, more precisely, on the role that the university restaurant of this institution plays or not in the university policy on student permanence, whether or not it can ensure access and permanence of students in higher education. Thus, the study aimed to analyze to what extent the establishment and implementation of the university restaurant, at the Agricultural Sciences Center (CCA) and its extension at the Center for Integrated Sciences (CCI), linked to the Federal University of
Northern Tocantins (UFNT), allows or not the university stay of students in the face-to-face undergraduate and bachelor's degree courses at these Centers. The proposed study had a qualitative-quantitative approach and, in terms of objectives, it is classified as exploratorydescriptive, with the questionnaire and document analysis as data collection instruments. The empirical basis for the research data collection took place at the Federal University of Northern Tocantins, more precisely through the application of a semi-structured questionnaire applied to student users of the university restaurant located in Araguaína, at the Center for Agricultural Sciences (CCA) and in the extension of this located at Center for Integrated Sciences (CCI). 302 students were interviewed, with open and closed questions. Secondary data were collected at the university itself, more precisely in the sectors that manage the Institution's university restaurant. The results demonstrate that the actions developed in the food area, such as the university restaurant, contribute to the development of students, however, they are not sufficient in isolation, it is necessary to carry out other actions such as student housing, pedagogical
support, among others, occur concomitantly with new adaptations and implementation of improvements. It is concluded, with this research, that the criteria used by the university for access by students in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability are insufficient and should be reviewed to grant total exemption to those who really need it and who do not use this benefit.
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