AJC CENTER FOR EDUCATION ADVOCACY Laura Shaw Frank, Director 6 May 2025
Im writing to share good news about the impact of AJCs long-term efforts to combat widespread Jew-hatred on college campusesa result of our sustained work with university leaders.
In collaboration with American Jewish Committee (AJC), organizations representing more than 1,600 colleges and universities have pledged reforms to fight campus antisemitism.
AJC CEO Ted Deutch called this a major step forward in our efforts to create and foster the college experience that all students deserve: one that is free from hate, bigotry, and harassment, ensuring that all students including Jewish, Israeli, and Zionist students have the opportunity to grow and thrive.
This breakthrough was announced todayin a joint statementreleased by AJC, the Association of American Universities (AAU), and the American Council on Education (ACE), affirming the seriousness of antisemitism on campus and a pledge from these and other organizations, representing the full breadth of American higher educational institutions, to continuing consequential reform and transparent action.
While commending the administration for prioritizing the eradication of antisemitism on campus, the statement also notes that, [i]n the name of combating antisemitism, the federal government has recently taken steps that endanger the research grants, academic freedom, and institutional autonomy of Americas higher education sector, reiterating AJCs concerns that overly-broad and arbitrary funding cuts could undermine such efforts.
What's at stake? AJC's State of Antisemitism in America 2024 Report found that roughly one-third (35%) of current American Jewish college students and recent graduates report having personally experienced antisemitism at least once during their time on campus.
Why does this matter? AAU, ACE, and the four other partner organizations represent more than 1,600 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations. The statement from these organizations is a clear commitment from leadership at colleges and universities across the country and across the spectrum of higher education institutions to prioritize combating campus antisemitism.
What comes next? Todays statement is a continuation and reaffirmation of the vital work ofAJCs Center for Education Advocacy (CEA), the trusted resource for administrators and faculty at institutions of higher education and K-12 schools. Todays announcement signals an expansion of our long-term work to provide comprehensive action plans, impactful programming, and meaningful guidance to universities across the country, as we have recently done for Brown, MIT, UPenn, Cornell, Michigan, and many others in the wake of October 7, 2023. Read and shareAJCs Action Plan for University Administrators here.
Our message to university leaders: Fighting antisemitism on campus requires a comprehensive approach that impacts all members of the campus community, including faculty, administrators, and students. A commitment to meaningful reform must involve better community-wide education about the unique manifestations of antisemitism, and a return to viewpoint diversity, fact-based inquiry, and courageous conversations in higher education. A pervasive atmosphere of Jew-hatred cannot become the new normal, and young Jews should not have to fear discrimination or harassment while getting an education.
But without your support, we will not be able to reach every leader we need on college campuses throughout America. I hope you will join us in this critical work.
AJC, the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, creates trusted partnerships with influential leaders in education and throughout society in the United States and around the world to boldly advocate for Jews and Israel.
Sincerely,
Dr. Laura Shaw FrankDirector of AJCs Center for Education Advocacy
