This resource provides guidance for a coordinated, campus-wide framework for responding to antisemitic incidents. It is designed to support colleges and universities in building clear, consistent, and legally compliant response systems that protect students and employees, foster trust and uphold institutional values.
Antisemitism manifests across multiple domains of campus life – classrooms, residence halls, digital platforms, events, and administrative processes. An effective response therefore requires clarity of roles, shared expectations across departments, and transparent communication with the campus community.
The guidance below reflects ADL’s experience working with more than one hundred campuses nationwide, as well as widely accepted practices in bias response, civil-rights compliance, campus safety, and student support. Institutions can use this document as an easily digestible, practical tool for internal planning, cross-departmental alignment, tabletop exercises, training and policy development.
This resource is not a substitute for campus policies or compliance with legal requirements; rather, it offers an accessible and structured model to strengthen them. It should be adapted to each institution’s environment, governance structure, and existing protocols and should be reviewed in conjunction with other ADL resources, including our Six Asks for campuses and the accompanying Best Practices Guide, which provides detailed pathways for implementing our recommendations. Additional guidance is available in ADL’s resources on addressing academic disruptions and strengthening incident response mechanisms.
Purpose: Set tone and ensure accountability.
Actions:
- Issue a prompt statement condemning antisemitism, affirming safety for Jewish community members and outlining the available resources for the impacted campus community members.
- Ensure all units follow bias-incident protocols, preserve evidence, and report centrally.
- Ensure adequate resources are available for security, support/counseling, and timely and comprehensive investigations.
- Ensure all members of the campus community are aware of how to report incidents and what the response will be.
Purpose: Ensure compliance with federal and state law and campus policies and procedures.
Actions:
- Maintain a centralized intake process for discrimination complaints; acknowledge within 24 hours; outline next steps and rights; conduct investigations in compliance with campus policies and procedures and relevant state and/or federal law.
- Train teams to identify coded antisemitic symbols and language.
- Preserve evidence; coordinate with campus police when criminal conduct is alleged.
- Ensure case status updates are communicated within set intervals until closure.
- Track outcomes and timelines; publish de-identified aggregate data.
- Follow campus policies for conduct violations.
Purpose: Protect safety and preserve evidence.
Actions:
- Record formal reports when criminal activity occurs.
- Secure scenes; photograph and log vandalism before removal; pull camera footage; note dates, times, and exact locations.
- Coordinate escorts, security and patrol adjustments where needed.
- Share information about bias-related incidents with campus departments that investigate complaints of discrimination.
Purpose: Support affected students and coordinate follow-up.
Actions:
- Offer immediate outreach to impacted students; provide safety planning, supportive/counseling resources, academic flexibility, and referrals.
- Provide reporting options to students and referrals to Title VI/Civil Rights/Non-Discrimination Office.
- Train clinicians on antisemitism-related stress and trauma.
- Offer workshops on coping after bias incidents; coordinate with Student Affairs for referrals.
Purpose: Stop harm in living spaces and restore safety.
Actions:
- For harassment or vandalism in dorms: document, photograph, and remove hateful content after evidence capture.
- Use standard door-to-door welfare checks and a floor-wide note that references policy, reporting channels, and confidentiality.
- Train RAs to identify coded antisemitic symbols and language; provide scripts for incident intake and escalation.
- Refer bias incidents to Title VI/Civil Rights/Non-Discrimination Office.
Purpose: Preserve evidence while removing hateful material quickly and safely.
Actions:
- Do not clean or discard graffiti, stickers, flyers, or defaced objects until security/law enforcement or other relevant staff confirm documentation is complete.
- Use a simple tag: date, time, location, surface type and who was notified; photograph before removal.
- Maintain a quick-response protocol so hateful material is removed quickly after documentation.
- Ensure frontline staff are trained to recognize concerning materials.
Purpose: Ensure compliance with Title VII and related anti-harassment policies; support Jewish employees and ensure they are able to report without fear of retaliation.
Actions:
- Maintain a clear, confidential reporting process for antisemitic harassment or discrimination; acknowledge reports within 24 hours and outline next steps, timelines, and rights.
- Conduct timely, documented investigations and keep the reporting employee apprised of progress.
- Implement non-punitive interim measures (e.g., workspace or schedule adjustments) to ensure comfort and safety while investigations proceed and ensure swift safety assessments.
Purpose: Safeguard academic spaces and support faculty.
Actions:
- Ensure faculty within department are prepared to handle in-class targeted harassment or disruptions.
- Coordinate department-level briefings after incidents; share resources and next steps.
- Provide language for faculty to include in syllabi pertaining to anti-harassment, procedures for disruptions, and how to raise concerns.
Purpose: Maintain a safe, respectful learning environment.
Actions:
- Include a short syllabus statement on anti-harassment, procedures for disruptions, and how to raise concerns.
- If an antisemitic incident occurs in class: document specifics and report to the relevant office (e.g., Title VI / non-discrimination office) immediately after the session.
- Refer affected students to relevant office and supports on campus; provide make-up work or alternative participation as appropriate.
- Ensure faculty are trained to recognize discrimination/harassment.
Purpose: Address online harassment, doxxing and platform misuse.
Actions:
- Provide rapid takedown processes for targeted harassment on institutional systems; preserve server logs for investigations.
- Offer guidance on personal data hygiene and doxxing response to students and staff.
- Monitor campus listservs and platforms for policy-violating content, with clear escalation routes.
Purpose: Reduce risk at events and demonstrations.
Actions:
- Require clear conduct policies, trained moderators, and security review for higher-risk events; set signage on prohibited conduct.
- Establish de-escalation and ejection procedures for harassment or targeted disruptions that violate policies.
- Consistently enforce campus time, place and manner policies.
A strong incident-response system protects students, staff and faculty, promotes accountability, and reinforces a campus culture where antisemitism and all forms of hate are addressed consistently, transparently, and in accordance with federal, state and institutional obligations. Together, the roles and actions outlined in this document offer a blueprint for stronger, more coordinated campus practice – and a foundation for creating environments where every community member feels safe and supported.