Practical, nonlegal guidance for college and university faculty responding to antisemitism and anti-Israel bias in classroom settings.

ProgramsUniversities increasingly rely on trainings for students, staff, faculty and administrators to address antisemitism and related forms of bias on campus. Whether a program is developed internally or delivered by an external provider, institutions benefit from taking a thoughtful, structured approach to reviewing content, pedagogy, and alignment with institutional values. The questions below are designed to support universities in evaluating whether a training is factually accurate,…

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…

Antisemitism on college campuses has reached crisis levels, with ADL recording 1,694 incidents in 2024 – an 84% increase from the previous year and representing 18% of all antisemitic incidents nationwide. More than 83% of Jewish college students have experienced or witnessed antisemitism since October 2023, and their sense of safety has plummeted from 67% feeling physically safe before October 7, 2023, to only 46% feeling safe afterward. This advocacy toolkit equips students, parents,…

Allegation: Israel is a Settler Colonialist Enterprise  Facts: Jews are indigenous to the Land of Israel, rooted in nearly 4,000 years of religious, cultural, and historical ties to and presence in the land.Unlike settler colonialism, Zionism did not involve a foreign imperial power conquering land for exploitation, but was driven by Jewish refugees and survivors seeking refuge and autonomy from centuries of violent antisemitism.The modern state of Israel enjoys international legitimacy…

What Is the BDS Movement?  The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement is a global campaign that calls for academic, cultural, and economic boycotts of Israel. On campuses, it often pushes universities to 1) divest from companies that do business with Israel or support the Israeli military and 2) boycott Israeli academia, including universities, students and scholars. Why BDS Is a Problem  It rejects Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.It singles out Israel and…

Antisemitism  Definition: Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. Examples of manifestations of antisemitism can be found here. Examples: Stereotypes (e.g., Jews are greedy or control the media)Holocaust denial or trivializationVandalism or…

What to do if you experience or witness antisemitismStay Safe & DocumentGet to a safe place.If you feel you are in physical danger, contact 911Write down what happened: date, time, location, names, quotes.Save screenshots/photos/videos if possible.  Report the Incident: Report even if you're unsure whether it qualifies as antisemitism - your concern still matters.Internally:Bias Reporting SystemTitle VI/IX CoordinatorNon-Discrimination Office / Dean of StudentsCampus Hillel, Chabad or…

This resource is not intended to provide and should not be construed as legal advice. Overview of Employee Rights Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, and sex, including gender, gender identity, pregnancy, and sexual orientation, by employers in both public and private institutions.[1] The law covers all aspects of employment such as hiring, firing,…

This resource is not intended to provide and should not be construed as legal advice. Overview of Student Rights Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act  Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. This includes protection for Jewish students based on their or actual or perceived shared ethnic characteristics or ancestral background, and Israeli students…

 Academic associations play a vital role in fostering scholarly exchange, advancing knowledge and upholding professional integrity. As leaders within these organizations, it is essential to ensure that all members feel respected, safe and included – regardless of their identity or background. In recent years, concerns about antisemitism within academic spaces have grown, including instances of exclusion, bias and politicization that target Jewish, Israeli and Zionist individuals…

Dear President [Last Name], I am reaching out to address a pressing concern: the increasing prevalence of shadow boycotts targeting Israeli, Jewish and openly Zionist academics at [University Name] and institutions nationwide. This harmful trend, which has grown in response to the Israel-Hamas war, undermines the values of academic freedom and diversity that form the cornerstone of higher education. Shadow boycotts entail the subtle yet systematic exclusion of Israeli, Jewish or openly Zionist…

ADL, in partnership with Gratz College, has developed a short, validated campus climate survey instrument aimed at helping campus stakeholders assess the experiences of Jewish students on their college and university campus. This initiative was born out of the need for colleges and universities to utilize tried-and-tested survey questions, developed by academics, researchers and experts in antisemitism studies to accurately capture experienced antisemitism. This survey instrument was created…

Colleges and universities have seen an alarming and unprecedented rise in antisemitic incidents and rhetoric since the October 7 Hamas led attack on Israel, including vandalism, support for terrorism, disruptions to classes and commencement ceremonies, intimidation and even physical violence. In the 2024 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, ADL found that incidents on college and university campuses rose more steeply than those in any other location. 1,694 antisemitic incidents were recorded…

Incident reporting mechanisms are vital avenues for members of the campus community to report incidents of harassment and discrimination to guarantee thorough investigations and appropriate adjudication. Such mechanisms are not only essential to foster a safer and more inclusive campus climate, but they can also help ensure that students, staff and faculty affected by discriminatory behavior receive the support they need. However, the effectiveness and impact of incident reporting mechanisms…

In 2023, ADL issued The Six Asks: Policy Actions to Counter Antisemitism on Campus. We urged all colleges and universities to take these steps, consistent with the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism and ADL’s Not On My Campus Campaign, to help address the hostile environments on campuses. In line with the Six Asks, and together with our Jewish Communal Partners, ADL also published comprehensive guidance to university leadership that is central to the mission of making campuses…

This resource is not intended to provide and should not be construed as legal advice. Please consult with your own legal counsel for legal guidance. CommencementAs universities begin preparations for the 2026 commencement season and other major events, we urge administrators to take immediate and comprehensive steps to ensure that these milestone events are celebrated with the dignity, joy and safety they deserve. Commencement is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for graduating students and…

There’s been a disturbing increase in antisemitic incidents on college campuses across the country in the wake of the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel. During the 2023/24 academic year, ADL tracked over 1,400 antisemitic incidents on campus. In addition, according to a fall 2023 ADL, Hillel International and College Pulse survey, a plurality of students reported feeling physically unsafe on campus, with even less feeling emotionally safe. To address the rise of antisemitism on campus,…