ADL, CoP, Hillel International, and Jewish Federations Call for Universities to Address Persistent Campus Antisemitism
Following rising antisemitic incidents on campus, leading Jewish organizations urge administrators to implement comprehensive measures.
As the start of the school year approaches, ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CoP), Hillel International, and Jewish Federations of North America today announced an updated framework of recommendations designed to create safer, more inclusive campus environments for Jewish students, faculty, and staff.
The guidelines acknowledge meaningful progress made by many institutions to address campus antisemitism over the past school year, while outlining critical next steps needed to ensure sustained improvement. The recommendations focus on six key areas of institutional responsibility, emphasizing both immediate safety measures and long-term structural reforms.
Recommendations include:
- Enhanced Communication and Policy Enforcement: Universities must clearly articulate behavioral expectations and consistently enforce codes of conduct, with particular attention to time, place, and manner restrictions for campus activities.
- Dedicated Administrative Oversight: Institutions should appoint Title VI and VII Coordinators with specific responsibilities for preventing and addressing discrimination, including maintaining transparency about complaint processes and outcomes.
- Comprehensive Support Systems: Beyond basic safety measures, universities should actively combat the exclusion of Jewish students from campus activities, reject academic boycotts, and invest in meaningful dialogue opportunities across campus communities.
- Annual Surveys Assessing Campus Climate: Regular surveys of students, faculty, and staff should measure not only antisemitic incident frequency, but also community trust, policy awareness, and the effectiveness of institutional responses with regard to campus antisemitism.
- Holistic Campus Security: Safety measures must address both physical and online harassment, with updated policies covering cyber bullying and coordinated harassment campaigns.
- Faculty Accountability: Clear guidelines must govern classroom conduct, ensuring that academic spaces remain free from political coercion and identity-based discrimination.
“These recommendations aren’t just suggestions, they’re essential steps universities need to take to ensure Jewish students can learn without fear,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. “Jewish students are being forced to hide who they are, and that’s unacceptable — We need more administrators to step up.”
“We are encouraged by the universities that have taken prior recommendations seriously, implementing changes that have reduced the most severe types of incidents, creating safer and more welcoming environments as a result. But our work is far from complete,” said Adam Lehman, Hillel International President and CEO. “These updated recommendations provide a roadmap for institutions to build on their progress and address the challenges Jewish students continue to face.”
The framework addresses ongoing concerns revealed by recent survey data from ADL, Hillel International, and College Pulse, showing 83 percent of Jewish college students have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. According to the same survey, two-thirds of Jewish students were not confident in their university’s ability to prevent antisemitism incidents.
“Expecting to be physically safe should be table stakes — Jewish students also deserve to thrive academically and socially in their campus communities,” said Eric Fingerhut, President and CEO of Jewish Federations of North America. “These recommendations provide universities with concrete steps to create environments where Jewish students can pursue their education without fear of harassment or exclusion.”
William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, added: “Campus antisemitism demands continued commitment from universities and colleges. Schools that implement these recommendations will not only better serve their Jewish students, but strengthen the entire campus community’s dedication to academic excellence.”
The organizations emphasized their commitment to working collaboratively with college and university administrators to support the implementation of these measures throughout the academic year.
About ADL
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.
About CoP
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations is the recognized central coordinating body representing 50 diverse national Jewish organizations on issues of national and international concern.
About Hillel International
Founded in 1923, Hillel has been impacting the lives of Jewish college students for 100 years. Today, Hillel International is a global organization that welcomes students of all backgrounds and fosters an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel. As the largest Jewish student organization in the world, Hillel builds connections with emerging adults at more than 850 colleges and universities. During their formative college years, students are inspired to explore, experience, and create vibrant Jewish lives.
About Jewish Federations
The Jewish Federations of North America are the backbone of the organized Jewish community in the US and Canada, representing over 350 Jewish communities. They raise and distribute more than $2 billion annually and through planned giving and endowment programs to build flourishing Jewish communities at home, in Israel, and around the world.