Following the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents on campus, leading Jewish and educational groups call on college and university administrators to take action ahead of the new school year.
Jewish Federations of North America , ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CoP) and Hillel International announced a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at combating antisemitism on campus in the upcoming school year.
This unprecedented time for institutions of higher education across the United States demands a unified response to ensure the safety and full inclusion of Jewish students – as well as all students, faculty, and staff. These guidelines provide college and university administrators with clear and proactive ways to support a safer and more inclusive campus environment for Jewish students, and for the entire campus community.
Recommendations include:
- Clearly Communicate Campus Rules, Standards, and Policies: Make clear to students what it means to be a member of the campus community, and ensure students, faculty, and staff are aware of school policies on protests and demonstrations.
- Support Jewish Students: Prevent discrimination, unequivocally denounce antisemitism, ensure inclusivity, and provide antisemitism education and training.
- Ensure Campus Safety: Enforce university codes of conduct, maintain clear reporting avenues for antisemitic incidents, ensure campus staff are trained to address violations of campus rules, and reaffirm rejection of BDS and academic boycotts of Israel.
- Reaffirm Faculty Responsibilities: Ensure students’ academic freedom and a non-discriminatory learning environment in the classroom. Communicate and enforce policies regarding faculty who threaten to withhold students’ grades if faculty demands are not met, or who cancel mandatory classes.
- Prepare for Oct. 7: Anticipate and mitigate disruptions on the one-year mark of the Hamas attack on Israel, ensuring any protest activities do not interfere with campus operations or Jewish students’ rights.
“The unprecedented surge in antisemitism on college campuses last year was utterly unacceptable, and yet far too many administrations failed to respond effectively,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. “We insist that all college and university leaders take significant steps to make Jewish students safer.”
“During the last academic year, countless Jewish students experienced harassment, intimidation, discrimination, and even assaults on campus,” said Adam Lehman, Hillel International President and CEO. “Alongside our efforts to build vibrant Jewish communities on campus, we are providing college and university leaders with clear guidance and practical solutions for the steps they need to take to ensure a safer and more welcoming environment for Jewish students. Jewish students and all students deserve a better campus and learning environment this fall.”
During the 2023-2024 academic year, schools saw more than 1,400 antisemitic incidents on college campuses – by far the highest number of antisemitic incidents on campus in a single school year ever on record. Following the Oct. 7 attack, a survey by Hillel and ADL found that 73 percent of Jewish college students and 44 percent of non-Jewish students experienced or witnessed antisemitism on their campuses last fall. A fall 2023 survey by AJC found that 1 in 4 Jewish college/university students felt unsafe at a campus event because they were Jewish.
“What Jewish students faced on campus last year cannot be allowed to continue into the new academic year,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “All students on campus have the right to attend class, learn and grow without intimidation, harassment and even violence at the hands of fellow students and outside agitators. Colleges and universities must do the work to ensure a university culture of pluralism, fact-based inquiry, and dialogue across difference. They must ensure a campus and societal culture where there is zero tolerance for antisemitism.”
“Our campuses should be bastions of diversity and the open exchange of ideas rather than be pervaded by fear, intimidation, and discrimination,” said Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of Jewish Federations of North America. “With this agenda, Jewish Federations across North America are working to ensure that every community's institutions of higher learning will take action to protect the civil rights of their Jewish students.”
“Over the past school year, America saw numerous incidents of harassment against Jewish students, violent protests, and flagrant violations of conduct codes. University officials are neglecting their duty to ensure a safe learning environment for all students,” said William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. “We urge them to adopt these recommendations and collaborate with Jewish organizations to protect the safety of Jewish students.”
Additional supporting organizations include Academic Engagement Network, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Jewish Grad Organization, Jewish on Campus, National Council of Jewish Women, Olami, Rabbinical Assembly, Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Delta Tau, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and Zeta Beta Tau.