Abstract
It is relatively recent the regulation of student assistance in the governmental level, as a public policy. However, the discussions and debates on this subject are quite old, by the creation’s period of the first Brazilian universities, in the 1930s. Considering this policy historical process of framing, this article intends to discuss the different views proposed as a result of the discussions realized on this scenario. It also intends to systematize the current main points of discussion and confrontation on this subject. Those conceptions are often in dispute to define a student assistance regarded as ideal.
Student assistance; Public policy; Higher education