Colleges Fare Better on Average as ADL Grades Them on Antisemitism for a Second Time
A More Positive Outlook
For the second time, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is issuing grades to colleges and universities based on their handling of antisemitism and anti-Israel activism. The latest results show that most schools are showing improvement, with eight schools receiving A’s, up from just two last year. The number of “B” grades also increased, from 18 in 2024 to 41 this year.
Shira Goodman’s Insights
Shira Goodman, the ADL’s vice president of advocacy, attributes the improvement to the fact that roughly two-thirds of the 85 schools graded last year contacted the ADL to figure out how they could score better and implemented policies from the group’s “best practices” guide. “We think that shows that things are working,” she said.
Challenges Remain
However, some schools continued to struggle by the ADL’s metrics. For example, Barnard College was downgraded from a planned C to a D after administrators told pro-Palestinian student protesters occupying a building that they would not be punished if they left. The school had recently become the first in the country to expel students over their pro-Palestinian activism.
New Grades and Feedback
The new grades, for a broader set of 135 schools, reflect broader buy-in from Jewish campus professionals, who responded to and shared the ADL’s survey. Goodman noted that the ADL heard concerns from Jewish campus professionals and worked to address them. “One of the things we heard was, ‘You’re not talking about my experience on campus,'” she said. “We heard what their criticisms were. We wanted to make it better. And we think the fact that more Hillel, Chabad directors were providing us information is a good sign.”
Jewish Campus Groups’ Reactions
Hillel, a Jewish campus organization, offered a statement similar to the one it made last year, saying, “We do not believe it is constructive or accurate to try to assign grades to schools. Efforts to do so, however well-intended, produce misleading impressions regarding the actual Jewish student experience at those schools.”
Context and Challenges
The new grades come at a time when the landscape around campus protests and the stakes in handling them have changed. The Trump administration has escalated pressure on pro-Palestinian protesters and schools seen as abetting them. The administration has also raised the prospect of foreign-born student protesters being deported.
ADL’s Perspective
Goodman believes that the ADL has helped schools improve the climate for Jewish students during both the Biden and Trump administrations. She also thinks that Republicans in Congress, who have held a series of high-profile hearings on campus antisemitism, have “drawn important attention and pressure and motivated action.” She said, “Nobody wants to be next on that list, right? Nobody wants to be hauled into that committee.”
Examples of Improvement
Goodman pointed to the University of Pennsylvania, which took heat over antisemitism after Oct. 7, including during an antisemitism hearing convened by House Republicans. Since then, Penn formed an antisemitism task force, put out a number of campus climate surveys, and hired for new positions related to policy enforcement, including one to coordinate Title VI concerns adjudicated by the federal education department. This year, the ADL bumped up Penn’s grade from a D to a C.
ADL’s Grading Criteria
The ADL’s grades were devised using a rubric assessing whether schools regulate the “time, place, and manner” of campus protests; mandate antisemitism training for faculty and staff; maintain “partnerships with Israeli institutions, universities, scholars, and exchange programs”; or have “an active pro-Israel group or organization on campus” in addition to Hillel and Chabad. Schools with anti-Zionist staff or faculty groups were dinged, although the group emphasized that “incidents of criticism of Israel that do not veer into anti-Zionism are not counted” in the tally of incidents figuring into the grades.
Conclusion
Despite the gains, the ADL’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, emphasized that every campus should strive for an “A” grade, as this should be the standard. While many campuses have improved, Jewish students still do not feel safe or included on too many campuses. The ADL will continue to work with schools to address these issues and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
FAQs
* What is the purpose of the ADL’s grading system?
The ADL’s grading system aims to assess how effectively colleges and universities handle antisemitism and anti-Israel activism on campus.
* What are the criteria for the ADL’s grades?
The ADL uses a rubric that assesses whether schools regulate the “time, place, and manner” of campus protests, mandate antisemitism training for faculty and staff, maintain “partnerships with Israeli institutions, universities, scholars, and exchange programs”, or have “an active pro-Israel group or organization on campus” in addition to Hillel and Chabad.
* How many schools received A’s and B’s in the latest grades?
Eight schools received A’s, and 41 schools received B’s in the latest grades.
* How many schools were graded in the latest round?
The latest round included 135 schools.
