Combating antisemitism

UC has taken significant action to end antisemitism on campus

Following October 7, conflict spread at universities across the country. It tested the limits of our traditional approach to de-escalation and public safety. The University of California has reflected on where we fell short last spring and how the University can do better moving forward. UC has worked diligently in partnership with Jewish community members, lawmakers, campus leaders, students and faculty to develop actionable plans to ensure similar events never happen again. We remain committed to fostering an environment where every member of our community is safe and welcome.

UC leaders have instituted comprehensive reforms and programs to promote safety and combat all forms of harassment and discrimination, including antisemitism, on our campuses.

  • Published a single, systemwide Anti-Discrimination Policy managed by the new Systemwide Office of Civil Rights (SOCR) that applies to all staff, faculty, students and third parties.

  • Conducted trainings to inform the whole UC community about policies and procedures related to campus safety and expressive activities.

  • Communicated campus prohibitions against encampments, unauthorized structures, restrictions on free movement, identity concealment and refusals to reveal one’s identity when asked to do so by University personnel.

  • Participated in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative to foster a positive, inclusive and welcoming campus climate for all students throughout the UC system.

  • Participated in the Brandeis University Summer Institute on Antisemitism in Higher Education, which aims to raise awareness and provide senior administrators in academic and student affairs with a toolbox of practices and actions to effectively confront antisemitism on their campuses.

  • Joined Jewish California and other advocacy groups to oppose AB 2551 (pdf), which would repeal important provisions of the University's Time, Place, and Manner (TPM) framework that were recently implemented to strengthen campus safety and help combat antisemitism.

  • Opposed calls for boycotts against and divestment from Israel and reaffirmed that University entities may not engage in financial boycotts of specific countries, including Israel, while protecting the rights of individuals to express their views.

  • Reaffirmed system policies, including the Regents Policy 4403: Statement of Principles Against Intolerance from March 2016, which states, “Anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination have no place in the University. The Regents call on University leaders actively to challenge anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination when and wherever they emerge within the University community.”

“Antisemitism has no place at the University of California. Bigotry, discrimination, and hate go against our longstanding institutional values. We recognize our past shortcomings and will continue to work diligently to prevent and address antisemitism in all its forms, and to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for our Jewish students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors.”

— University of California President James B. Milliken

Strengthening policies

  • UC launched a systemwide civil rights office and implemented the systemwide Anti-Discrimination Policy prohibiting discrimination and harassment based on religion, national or ethnic origin, and ancestry, including actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, or citizenship or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity, including antisemitism.

  • UC made concrete policy and procedural changes including the restructuring of campus safety procedures, clarifying policies impacting free expression activities and adhering to disciplinary processes aligned with the updated policies.

  • UC issued clear and consistent policy requirements regarding expressive activities, such as protests at UC locations. In preparation for the anniversary of the October 7th terror attacks, UC President James B. Milliken reminded Chancellors of their obligation to enforce the University's Time, Place, and Manner (TPM) policies to safeguard our community and prevent any campus disruptions.

  • Provided guidance to UC chancellors about sharing campus climate resources and policies for students, faculty and staff.

  • Reviewing and consolidating safety and policing policies to enhance accessibility and clarity.

  • Conducted a comprehensive review of UC faculty disciplinary policies and procedures and developed recommendations, including guidance to promote greater consistency around expressive activity discipline (including with respect to allegations of antisemitism), procedural timelines to ensure a more expeditious process and annual reports to the regents from chancellors on the status of faculty disciplinary cases.

  • Updated University policies and procedures relevant to student and faculty conduct and discipline. The updated Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations and Students (PACAOS) are effective as of January 1, 2026.

“California Jewish leaders expressed support for UCLA and the UC system, following reports that the federal government is seeking a $1.172 billion settlement from UCLA after freezing $584 million in groundbreaking federal research funding on UC campuses.”

Read the full statement

Providing training

The UC Office of the President held systemwide and campus-specific leadership trainings to support decision making when responding to disruptive events, including incidents of antisemitic harassment.

  • The Systemwide Office of Civil Rights provided Title VI/Anti-Discrimination Policy training to Local Implementation Officers and investigative staff and is developing training for campus police and safety officers.

  • UC is fulfilling the requirements of AB 2925, which requests any trainings addressing antidiscrimination include the five most targeted groups in the state as determined in the state Attorney General’s annual “Hate Crime in California” report.

  • UC is implementing SB 1287 through mandatory annual training for students to recognize what constitutes discrimination and harassment based on protected categories, including shared Jewish ancestry.

  • In partnership with Center for Free Speech and UCLA’s Dialogue Across Difference, UC provided a training video, “Discourse and Free Expression: Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities at the University of California,” to the campuses in August 2025.

“Through this difficult time, the University of California has taken meaningful steps to make it clear to Jewish students, faculty, and community members that combating antisemitic hate is a top priority for the institution. UC has followed through on this commitment through not only increased security and strengthened policies, but also by engaging directly with Jewish voices across every campus to better inform their approach to improving safety and inclusion.”

— CA State Senator Ben Allen, Former Chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus

Reporting incidents

Antisemitism and all other forms of hate are unacceptable at UC locations and in our programs and activities. UC expects members of our community to fully adhere to policies and laws. Our campuses have robust reporting and investigation processes in place, and impacted individuals may access supportive measures even if they do not file a complaint or request an investigation.

Incident reporting form

Education initiatives

The UC Office of the President introduced the UC Campus Climate Initiative in August of 2024 with the aim of maintaining safe, respectful, and inclusive campuses, and improving the University’s preparation for and consistency in addressing events and incidents.

“The University of California made a promise to Jewish students and faculty that combating antisemitism would be a top institutional priority. UC has followed through by strengthening its policies, investing in safety, and engaging with Jewish voices across every campus and throughout the state.”

— Leo Spiegel, Past Chair of Trustees, UC San Diego and Former Chair, Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego

Partnerships

UC participates in Hillel International's Campus Climate Initiative. With involvement by senior leaders on all 10 UC campuses, the UC Office of the President has hosted full day convenings and educational seminars led by Hillel International. Campus teams consult with Hillel staff and work directly with Hillel’s research partner (National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago) to assess campus climate to foster a positive, inclusive and welcoming campus climate for all students. Beginning in spring 2026, campuses will participate in focus groups led by NORC (pdf).

“The UC has sent a clear message that there is no place and no excuse on any campus for antisemitism or the threat of violence against Jewish students; that all forms of antisemitism are antithetical to the University’s values and will not be tolerated.”

— Hannah-Beth Jackson, former California State Senator and Chair of the California State Senate Committee on the Judiciary and a Founding Member of the Legislative Jewish Caucus

Making progress on campus

UC campuses have taken significant steps to combat antisemitism.

Berkeley

  • Received a “B” grade on the Anti-Defamation League 2026 Antisemitism Report Card for its “dedicated efforts to address and combat antisemitism over the past academic year that have clearly made a meaningful impact on the campus environment.” ADL rated the quality of Jewish life on campus as “excellent” and described the Administration’s actions to address antisemitism as “above expectations.”
  • Created and filled a new position in the campus police department to strengthen awareness of and compliance with Time, Place, and Manner rules and related university policies. 
  • Expanded the ability to track antisemitic incidents separately from other hate incidents through the Office of the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination.
  • Expanded the number of antisemitism-related trainings provided to all new students.
  • In 2025, UC Berkeley administrators participated in the Frieze Family Foundation Summer Institute on Antisemitism in Higher Education at Brandeis University. Chancellor Lyons participated in the “President’s Summit on Campus Antisemitism,” co-sponsored by the American Jewish Committee, Hillel, and the American Council on Education.
  • Will provide at least three years of support for the Berkeley Bridging Fellowship Program, a course for undergraduates designed to facilitate meaningful and constructive conversations about Israel and Palestine.
  • Launched “Berkeley Changemaker: Opening to Opposing Views,” a new course about engaging across differences with curiosity, confidence and respect. 5,000+ students and alumni have enrolled in the course, which has also been expanded to California’s community colleges.
  • Increased funding to the Antisemitism Education Initiative and for mandatory antisemitism training for first-year students, student organization leaders and Residential Assistants. A two-hour training workshop was made available to all campus staff in fall 2025.
  • Affirmed that there will be no divestment from entities that do business with or in Israel. This is consistent with systemwide policy.
  • Created an Israel Studies minor.
  • The Antisemitism Education Initiative (est. 2019) supports faculty and community leaders in their work with campus administrators and student leaders to promote and provide antisemitism awareness and education. The Initiative is based in the Center for Jewish Studies, led by a full-time director, and co-coordinated by the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee, the Center for Jewish Studies, the Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies, Berkeley Hillel, and the Magnes Collection.

Davis

  • Launched the Addressing Antisemitism website in collaboration with campus and community organizations, including the Jewish Studies Program, the Department of History, the School of Law and the School of Medicine.
  • Developed the Dynamic Discussions Hub, a digital resource featuring courses and events developed by members of the faculty and campus community to support meaningful dialogue about antisemitism.
  • Made "A Campus Guide to Identifying Antisemitism in a Time of Perplexity" available to the entire campus community.
  • Formed the Jewish Culture, Heritage, and Identity Faculty and Staff Association (JCHAIFSA) to support an inclusive campus environment by celebrating and advancing Jewish culture, heritage and identity and providing opportunities for community engagement and education to combat antisemitism.
  • The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Jewish Student Life continues to hold quarterly meetings with Jewish faculty, staff, students and community members. The committee is chaired by Hillel, co-chaired by a member of the Chancellor’s cabinet and includes the Chancellor and senior members of the administration.
  • The Jewish Student Leaders Council meets monthly with the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs to facilitate ongoing dialogue between administrators and student leaders.
  • Staff participated in the Anti-Defamation League’s Pathway to No Tolerance for Antisemitism webinars.
  • Chancellor Gary S. May and members of the Chancellor’s Leadership Council participate in the Advisory Council on Jewish Student Life and join in activities that support and celebrate Jewish heritage.

Irvine

  • Will co-sponsor the planned 2026 Countering Hate Summit with the Jewish Federation of Orange County.  
  • Will provide ongoing support for activities in partnership with Hillel including the Holocaust Remembrance Day event and the Jewish Identities Dinner.
  • Will support ongoing engagement with Interfaith America to promote interfaith cooperation and develop strategic planning to assess challenges to fostering religious pluralism and interfaith cooperation on campus.
  • Designated the Center for Jewish Studies as a campus-level center. The center brings together 21 faculty from seven schools across the campus to serve as the hub for the multidisciplinary study of Jewish culture and society at UC Irvine and the broader community.
  • Became the first UC campus to join the Hillel Campus Climate Initiative, which includes developing a campus climate survey and action plan to address hate and bias on campus.
  • Introduced the Courageous Conversations Series to foster discourse on challenging topics, including Palestinian and Israeli perspectives on the Middle East conflict. 

UCLA

  • Announced a settlement in the Frankel v. Regents of the University of California case, resolving claims against UC related to UCLA’s initial response to protest activity in 2024. The agreement builds on substantive action taken by the University of California and UCLA to promote safety and combat antisemitism on campus.
  • Launched the Initiative to Combat Antisemitism, a standing committee tasked with implementing a set of findings and putting forth additional recommendations to combat hate and bigotry in all forms, including antisemitism, at UCLA.
  • Rolled out the university’s Four-Point Plan for a Safer, Stronger UCLA outlining enhancements to campus safety, initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue across difference, and mechanisms for self-evaluation, among other policies.
  • Developing and deploying a campus-wide antisemitism training strategy for all UCLA community members, including guidance for Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Resident Assistants (RAs) about antisemitism and how to create a safe and non-discriminatory learning and living environment.
  • The UCLA Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, established in 2010, provides a space for nuanced and informative discourse related to the history and culture of Israel and its people.
  • Developing detailed recommendations about the revamping of the civil rights complaint system, including complaints related to antisemitism, to achieve a fair and responsive system for complaint adjudication. Additional work includes benchmarking civil rights complaint systems at other institutions and providing guidance to the UCLA Compliance Office.
  • Received praise from Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League for efforts to combat antisemitism: “Credit where it's due: @UCLAchancellor Julio Frenk arrived at @UCLA in January 2025 and immediately got to work. Hiring a Title VI officer, creating an antisemitism initiative and strengthening policies and enforcement. The result? UCLA moved from a D to a B on @ADL's Campus Report Card. Leadership matters. When university presidents treat combating antisemitism as a moral imperative and back it up with resources and action, Jewish students, staff and faculty are safer. There's more work ahead, but this is real progress.” 

Merced

  • Launched a new mini-grant initiative supporting up to 10 proposals per year focused on efforts aimed at addressing bias and bigotry, inclusive of antisemitism and Islamophobia.
  • Promoted webinars and workshops centered on countering bias and bigotry that included Roots: Changing the Conversation Around Conflict and a series from the Academic Engagement Network (AEN), an organization focused on increasing knowledge of the diversity of Jewish experience and contemporary manifestations of antisemitism.
  • Creating and amplifying educational social media posts on Jewish identity, antisemitism and suggestions for inclusion around religious identity. 
  • Supported two events featuring Roots, a nonprofit organization in the West Bank that brings together Jewish and Palestinian people. A third event will be scheduled for the 2025-2026 school year.

Riverside

  • Partnered with Hillel, supported the establishment of the Jewish Faculty and Staff Association, and actively collaborated with organizations that serve the Jewish community and educate on antisemitism.
  • Provided significant funding (with support of the UC Office of the President) to address antisemitism and other bias-related concerns through educational programming, speaker events, and campuswide initiatives aimed at fostering respect and countering bigotry.
  • Developed an annual campus climate management training for leadership and participates in systemwide Campus Climate Initiatives.
  • Launched the Addressing Bias and Bigotry Framework which includes programs that combat antisemitism through education, prevention, and response. Upcoming programming will include Bridging Faiths: Exploring Jewish Culture and Confronting Antisemitism, Challenging Bias and Bigotry in the Workplace, and Bystander Intervention Training for staff and students.
  • Strengthened the campus partnership with Hillel throughout the 2025-26 academic year. Senior leadership will coordinate campuswide efforts to address antisemitism proactively. 
  • Developing a new Antisemitism Training Module including interactive content and practical applications to ensure comprehensive understanding of antisemitism. The training will be available to the campus community and direct UC Riverside affiliates starting in December 2025.
  • Engaging in a collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League to enhance campus safety efforts. UC Riverside Police Department (UCPD) representatives will continue to participate in ADL quarterly webinars focused on combating antisemitism and will continue to collaborate regularly with Hillel students and staff. 
  • Launching the campuswide “Belonging is Health” campaign. This public health campaign will focus on addressing bias, exclusion and student experiences of marginalization. In partnership with Hillel and the Middle Eastern Student Center (MESC), the campaign will host dedicated workshops and dialogues as safe spaces for reflection, accompanied by wellness activities that emphasize community and belonging.

San Diego

  • Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla established an Antisemitism Workgroup charged with reviewing antisemitism concerns at UC San Diego with the aim of fostering a safer, more inclusive and equitable environment for the campus’s Jewish community.
  • Implementing the Antisemitism Workgroup recommendations to address climate, belonging and accountability. Additional efforts will support education and engagement with UC San Diego Health.
  • Supporting the campus-wide celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month each May.
  • The newly formed Jewish Staff and Faculty Tritons Association will provide opportunities for connection, celebration, cross-cultural/interfaith partnerships, educational events and well-being on campus and beyond.
  • Supporting ongoing partnerships to provide mandatory education for graduate and undergraduate students. Developed collaboratively, these programs aim to equip student leaders with critical information on the history of antisemitism, its contemporary forms, and the intersection of antisemitism with other forms of hate. Beginning July 2025, the Associated Students of UC San Diego participated in a three-day in-person leadership retreat and the Graduate & Professional Student Association of UC San Diego participated in asynchronous modules and weekly virtual meetings. 
  • Launched the “Tritons Belong” initiative. This includes a partnership with ADL San Diego to provide educational seminars and publicly available resources for students, faculty and staff.
  • Launched the “Dialogue for Peace: Building Compassion and Understanding Across Difference” initiative in Spring 2025. The campaign encompasses several events and programs, including a professional development training fellowship to empower UC San Diego community members to become compassionate listeners and conflict resolution facilitators through a Peacemaking and Restorative Justice-based curriculum.

San Francisco

  • Providing leadership training workshops with the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) to reach more than 350 additional leaders across UCSF and UCSF Health. More than 500 UCSF leaders have participated in the training.
  • Launched a new inter-professional course for students in the UCSF schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and physical therapy on antisemitism, Jewish identity, and healthcare-specific case studies. A required online course has also been launched. 
  • Hired an Assistant Director of Jewish Life to promote an inclusive campus and healthcare environment, address antisemitism, and advance cultural awareness.
  • Partnered with the Academic Engagement Network to develop a series of required antisemitism trainings for UCSF leadership, departmental opportunity leaders and key campus personnel.
  • Created the Director of Jewish Life position within the Office of Opportunity and Outreach to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to address antisemitism at UCSF. The director also supports Jewish faculty, staff, student, and patient communities and will serve as a liaison to Jewish organizations, registered campus organizations, local synagogues and interfaith groups.
  • UCSF’s Jewish Coalition, a self-organized group of faculty, staff, and students, meets regularly with senior leadership to discuss ideas for combating antisemitism and fostering a welcoming environment for Jewish and Israeli members of the UCSF community.
  • Supported the formation of Shalom, a registered campus organization for staff and students focused on confronting antisemitism and supporting Jewish and Israeli members of the UCSF community.
  • Established relationships with San Francisco Hillel and the Jewish Community Relations Council to explore how UCSF can oppose antisemitism and foster a greater sense of belonging for Jewish and Israeli members of the UCSF community.

Santa Barbara

  • Developed the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Antisemitism to cultivate a safe and inclusive environment on campus for Jewish- and Israeli-identifying community members, and to support further understanding of experiences of anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli hostility.
  • Supported faculty and staff efforts to launch a Jewish employee affinity group, which aims to support an inclusive Jewish and Israeli community on campus.
  • Supported efforts by the Associated Students of UCSB to create a Jewish Commission to support and advocate for Jewish students and to bring greater education about Jewish culture to campus.
  • Will support ongoing participation in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative to ensure a positive campus climate in which Jewish students feel comfortable expressing their identities.

Santa Cruz

  • Implemented a Principles of Community training for all new students. The program addresses campus climate and culture issues including antisemitism and directs students to resources, policies, and reporting options. Over 6,000 new students completed the course in 2025.
  • In partnership with renowned Holocaust educator Dr. Lauren Bairnsfather, hosted a series of synchronous virtual and hybrid employee trainings in 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 on identifying and combating antisemitism and other forms of hate, educating about the Holocaust, and supporting Jewish inclusion and belonging. Dr. Bairnsfather’s work with employees is expected to continue into 2026-2027. Asynchronous web modules on the same topics are currently in post-production and will be available to all university employees, including graduate students, in 2026. 
  • Participated in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative to improve and strengthen a campus climate in which Jewish students feel comfortable expressing their identity free of antisemitism, harassment or marginalization.
  • Published a new Preventing Antisemitism at UC Santa Cruz webpage with information and resources for the community.

The work continues

Through new systemwide and campus offices, updates to policies, and by providing resources, education, and trainings to community members, UC has taken concrete steps to address antisemitism. These efforts have been recognized by UC’s Jewish community who have expressed appreciation for UC’s significant actions to cultivate a safe and welcoming campus environment.

Our work is not done. As an educational institution, we are committed to a culture of constant learning and improvement as we continue to build a learning environment free of hate, discrimination and harassment.

The University of California opened its doors in 1869 with just 10 faculty members and 40 students. Today, the UC system has more than 300,000 students and 265,000 faculty and staff, with 2.5 million alumni living around the world.