Background
Below are the criteria that all schools are assessed on, split into the categories of 1) Administrative Policies and Actions, 2) Campus Conduct and Climate Concerns and 3) Jewish Life on Campus.
Weightings for each criterion were established via a student survey to 2,000 Jewish and non-Jewish students that sought to assess which of these criteria were most and least important to students themselves.
In the criteria guide, some criteria also note that colleges and universities will be docked or will receive credit for certain actions. These new criteria will attempt to award bonus points for certain positive actions and subtract points for certain negative actions, but will not be applied to schools where they are not relevant (e.g., a university that has never had relations with Israeli institutions will not be assessed in that criterion, a university that has fostered and elevated such relations will receive bonus points, and a university that has capitulated to demands to end such relations will be docked points). As with the weightings for all criteria, the number of points that is added or subtracted for these criteria is informed by the student survey.
Administrative Policies and Actions
(Weighted at 31.5% of the overall grade)
- Is antisemitism explicitly referenced in the Code of Conduct or other related policies? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college or university (or the college or university system) must mention antisemitism (e.g., via the IHRA definition) in its Code of Conduct, non-discrimination or other related policies and include a reference to Israel, Zionism or anti-Zionism and acknowledge that antisemitism includes discrimination against Israeli members of the campus community because of their national origin. From most closely met to least, partial fulfillment can be the inclusion, in the Code of Conduct or other policies, of 1) antisemitism without any references to Israel, Zionism or anti-Zionism or with references to Israel/Zionism that fall short of recognizing anti-Zionist manifestations of antisemitism; 2) the inclusion of race, ethnicity and religion as protected identity characteristics under the school’s anti-harassment or non-discrimination policies. Total lack of fulfillment of this criterion means the college or university has not included any specifics regarding which forms of identity-based harassment or discrimination are prohibited on campus. Universities that explicitly define other specific forms of hate, but specifically exclude antisemitism, are docked.
- Does the college have a clear, robust and easily findable way to report antisemitic incidents for investigation? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college or university must have a clear, centralized, widely-publicized across school webpages and easily findable way for members of the campus community to report incidents (i.e., via a digital form easily findable online that sets expectations regarding response times, outlines types of prohibited conduct and provides thorough instructions on submitting an incident, relevant contact details, etc.). To partially fulfill this criterion, the college or university must have an easily-accessible reporting mechanism that can be found on the campus website, but may lack the additional features necessary for full fulfillment. Colleges and universities that do not have robust reporting mechanisms available or described in detail on their website do not fulfill this criterion. Colleges and universities that release anonymized aggregate incident data as part of their incident response strategy will receive additional credit.
- Does the college have an advisory council, standing committee, task force, or other similar administrative effort to address antisemitism? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must have a task force, standing committee or advisory council against antisemitism or focused on Jewish student life that is composed of relevant stakeholders (such as Jewish organizational representatives, SMEs, or Jewish members of the campus community) and that has, since October 7 2023, published a report with recommendations or otherwise provided recommendations to the administration that the college has adopted or has started to adopt. Task forces, committees or advisory councils that jointly address antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate, or other forms of prejudices, can fully fulfill this criterion if they include individuals with relevant expertise related to antisemitism. From most closely met to least, partial fulfillment can be 1) the establishment of a task force, committee or advisory council against antisemitism or focused on Jewish student life that is composed of relevant stakeholders (such as Jewish organizational representatives, Jewish staff members, or Jewish students) that has not yet publicly released any recommendations, or wherein the administration has not yet started to adopt the recommendations; 2) the existence of an informal task force, a task force with no Jewish communal or expert representation, or a task force that has not taken meaningful steps to address issues of campus antisemitism. Colleges and universities that do not have any task force, advisory councils or equivalent committees do not fulfill this criterion.
- Does the college have a transparent and readily accessible religious accommodations policy? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must have a clear and readily accessible accommodations policy for religious observances, available for all members of the campus community. Colleges and universities that do not have clear and readily accessible religious accommodations policies do not fulfill this criterion. Colleges that enforce non-testing days on major Jewish holidays will receive additional credit.
- Does the college have mandatory antisemitism education (i.e., integrated into broader trainings) for students, faculty and staff?[1] To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must offer mandatory antisemitism education for all students, faculty and staff. Such mandatory classes can be integrated into broader trainings, orientation programming, or offered via other means throughout the academic year. From most closely met to least, partial fulfillment can be 1) offering mandatory antisemitism education for all students, faculty or staff and for all new/incoming faculty, staff or students (e.g. for cases wherein mandatory trainings exist for all faculty and staff, but only for incoming students); 2) offering mandatory antisemitism education for all new/incoming faculty, staff and students 3) offering mandatory antisemitism education for all faculty, staff or students; 4) offering mandatory antisemitism education for all new/incoming faculty, staff or students; 5) offering mandatory antisemitism education for some specific groups (e.g. campus group leaders); or 6) offering non-mandatory antisemitism education or a related discussion series to the campus community. Colleges and universities that do not have any antisemitism education programming being offered do not fulfill this criterion.
- Does the college have an official position against the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must have recently (within the past 5 years) opposed the BDS movement, made clear that the school would not be taking any actions consistent with BDS and/or academic boycotts and rejected calls for divestment when they have occurred. To partially fulfill this criterion, the college must have previously opposed the BDS movement, but without reiterating their opposition recently (within the past 5 years). Colleges and universities that have never opposed the BDS movement do not fulfill this criterion. College and university administrations that have divested or otherwise endorsed BDS-related activity are docked.
- Does the college publicly condemn antisemitism on campus? To fully fulfill this criterion, college leadership must publicly condemn major antisemitic incidents on campus if/when they occur (e.g., violence, threats, vandalism, etc.). Full fulfillment requires statements that are specific, timely, and offer support to the impacted community. Partial fulfillment could be achieved if college leadership responds to major antisemitic incidents, but the statement(s) are not specific or timely, or do not offer support for students impacted. Colleges and universities that do not meet the foregoing criteria do not fulfill this criterion.
- Does the college provide opportunities for civil discourse? To fully fulfill this criterion, colleges and universities must offer structured programs or initiatives to promote civil discourse and conscientious conversations on topics related to the Middle East, such as the Israel-Hamas war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Colleges and universities that do not offer any initiatives or opportunities for such conversations do not fulfill this criterion.
- Does the college establish and elevate partnerships with Israeli institutions, universities, scholars and exchange programs? Colleges that have formed and retained relationships (such as exchange programs or via joint research) with Israeli universities and scholars, comparable to partnerships formed with other U.S. allies, will receive additional credit. Colleges that have capitulated to academic boycott demands to end such partnerships, or have otherwise quietly halted relations with Israeli universities and scholars, will be docked. Partial bonus points for this criterion are also available.
- Does the college conduct regular campus climate surveys that seek to assess the experiences of Jewish members of the campus community? Colleges and universities that have conducted annual or bi-annual campus climate surveys (or equivalent research projects, such as listening sessions or focus groups) wherein the topics of Jewish student life and antisemitism on campus are thoroughly assessed will receive additional credit. Such surveys should seek to establish the impacts and prevalence of antisemitism on campus, the robustness of Jewish life on campus and the needs of the Jewish campus community.
- Has the college participated in a program designed to assess and address antisemitism on campus? Colleges that have participated in programs designed to counter antisemitism on campus – such as Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI) or a similar program – will receive additional credit. Partial bonus points for this criterion are also available.
- Does the college have clear time, place and manner policies in place pertaining to protests? Colleges and universities will receive additional credit for having each of the following policies in place: 1) a policy limiting or prohibiting the erection of temporary or permanent structures on campus; 2) a policy that restricts masked harassment and intimidation; and 3) a policy that prohibits substantial interference with or disruptions of campus events, including commencement ceremonies.
Campus Conduct & Climate Concerns
(Weighted at 31.5% of the overall grade)
- Have severe antisemitic (including anti-Zionist) incidents occurred on campus? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must not have had any reported severe antisemitic incidents from April 2024 to February 2025. To partially fulfill this criterion, the college must have a 1) low or 2) medium rate of such incidents, relative to the size of the total student population. Colleges and universities that have had high rates of severe incidents do not fulfill this criterion. Incidents of criticism of Israel that did not veer into anti-Zionism are not counted.
- Have other antisemitic (including hostile anti-Zionist) incidents occurred on campus? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must not have had any reported antisemitic incidents from April 2024 to February 2025. To partially fulfill this criterion, the college must have a 1) low or 2) medium rate of such incidents, relative to size of total student population. Colleges and universities that have had high rates of incidents do not fulfill this criterion. Incidents of criticism of Israel that do not veer into anti-Zionism are not counted.
- Is there hostile activity by the student government that is antisemitic or anti-Zionist? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must not have had any hostile antisemitic or anti-Zionist activities by the student government on campus in 2024 and 2025. To partially fulfill this criterion, the college must have only recorded a maximum of one such incident during this time period. Colleges and universities that have had repeated activity and colleges and universities where the student government has recently voted in favor of a BDS resolution do not fulfill this criterion. Colleges and universities wherein the student government has voted in favor of resolutions to condemn antisemitism and anti-Zionism or to safeguard Jewish campus communities in 2024 or 2025 will receive additional credit. Incidents of criticism of Israel that do not veer into anti-Zionism are not counted.
- Are student groups involved in hostile anti-Zionist or antisemitic activity on campus? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must have no anti-Zionist student groups on campus. This includes registered student organizations and unrecognized student groups operating on campus. To partially fulfill this criterion, the college must have no anti-Zionist student groups engaging in recent and/or repeated hostile behavior on campus. Colleges and universities that have anti-Zionist student groups engaging in hostile activity do not fulfill this criterion. Incidents of criticism of Israel that do not veer into anti-Zionism are not counted.
- Are there staff and faculty groups, initiatives or campaigns involved in hostile anti-Zionist or antisemitic activity on campus? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must have no anti-Zionist faculty groups on campus. This includes officially recognized and unrecognized groups operating on campus. To partially fulfill this criterion, the college must have no anti-Zionist staff and faculty groups engaging in recent and/or repeated hostile behavior on campus. Colleges and universities that have anti-Zionist faculty groups engaging in hostile activity do not fulfill this criterion. Incidents of criticism of Israel that do not veer into anti-Zionism are not counted.
Jewish Life on Campus
(Weighted at 27% of the overall grade)
- Is there an active Hillel, Chabad or similar organization on or servicing the campus? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must have an active Hillel, Chabad or similar organization. Absence of such an organization means the college cannot fulfill this criterion.
- Is there active Jewish Greek life on campus? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must have active Jewish Greek life on campus. Colleges and universities that explicitly ban Greek life on campus or do not have any Greek life organizations are exempt from fulfillment of this criterion. Absence of Jewish Greek life on campus if the college has other fraternities or sororities means the college cannot fulfill this criterion.
- Is there an active pro-Israel group or organization on campus? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must have an active pro-Israel group or organization on campus. As the presence of a Hillel is evaluated under a separate criterion, a pro-Israel group must exist in addition to a Hillel, if a Hillel is present on campus, for this criterion to be fulfilled. Absence of such an organization means the college cannot fulfill this criterion.
- Does the college offer a Jewish studies program or class? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must offer students a major or a minor in Jewish studies. To partially fulfill this criterion, the college must offer classes or modules related to Jewish studies. Colleges and universities that do not have any sort of Jewish studies-related education do not fulfill this criterion.
- Does the college offer Kosher dining options? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must offer Kosher dining to students. From most closely met to least, partial fulfillment be 1) colleges having a surcharge on their Kosher dining options and 2) only occasionally offer Kosher dining options (e.g., on special occasions or during specific events). Failure to offer Kosher dining options means the college cannot fulfill this criterion.
- Are there interfaith and/or inter-affinity initiatives on campus? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must have interfaith and/or inter-affinity programming, or a dedicated group set up to develop interfaith and/or inter-affinity initiatives. To partially fulfill this criterion, the college must at least occasionally host interfaith and/or inter-affinity events. Colleges and universities that do not have any sort of interfaith and/or inter-affinity events or initiatives do not fulfill this criterion.
- Does the college promote awareness of the Jewish holidays? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must include the Jewish holidays on the school calendar or otherwise lift up Jewish holiday-related events on campus hosted by Chabad, Hillel, or others. Colleges and universities that do not take steps to raise awareness regarding Jewish holidays cannot fulfill this criterion.
- Does the college offer an Israel studies class or exchange/study abroad programs? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college must offer classes or modules related to Israel studies. To partially fulfill this criterion, the college must offer exchange programs with Israeli institutions or study abroad programs in Israel. Colleges and universities that do not offer such programing cannot fulfill this criterion.
- Is there a Rabbi/Jewish educator supporting the campus community? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college or university must have a Rabbi or a Jewish educator supporting the campus community. Colleges and universities that do not have a Rabbi or Jewish educator on campus or otherwise supporting the campus cannot fulfill this criterion.
- Do students have access to Jewish religious services on or near campus, such as via Hillel or Chabad? To fully fulfill this criterion, students must be able to attend Jewish religious services from campus, such as via Hillel, Chabad or through university guidance on attending a local synagogue. Colleges and universities where students cannot readily access such services cannot fulfill this criterion.
- Does the college have a Jewish Alumni Group? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college or university must have a college or university-affiliated Jewish Alumni Group. Colleges and universities that do not have a university-affiliated Jewish Alumni Group do not fulfill this criterion.
- Does the college have a Jewish staff and faculty affinity group or a Jewish Employee Resource Group (ERG)? To fully fulfill this criterion, the college or university must have a college or university-affiliated (school-specific or systemwide) Jewish group for staff and faculty members. Colleges and universities that do not have such a group do not fulfill this criterion.
- Does the college establish and elevate relationships with internal and external Jewish and Jewish-allied organizations? Colleges that have formed and retained relationships with internal and external Jewish organizations, such as Hillel, Chabad, Jewish fraternities and sororities and/or local Jewish community organizations, and have provided these institutions with opportunities to collaborate with the administration on addressing campus antisemitism will receive additional credit. Colleges that have capitulated to demands to boycott such institutions, or have otherwise quietly halted relations with Jewish institutions, will be docked.
Qualitative Assessment
(Weighted at 10% of the overall grade)
The qualitative assessment delved specifically into the enforcement of college and university non-discrimination policies to certify that colleges that are truly working to protect and support their Jewish students following incidents were rightfully rewarded and that colleges that had entirely failed to uphold their policies were graded accordingly. To ensure a rigorous qualitative assessment, the Report Card team re-reviewed primary and secondary research materials and consulted with ADL Regional Directors to acquire perspectives from those on the ground. For the 2025 iteration of the Report Card, the team also disseminated a survey to students on campuses nationwide, oversampling the Report Card colleges, to gather qualitative responses from students attending these schools.
For the qualitative assessment, colleges that had exceeded expectations were rewarded, colleges that were performing at an average level did not experience any changes to their grades, and colleges that had failed to meet expectations received negative adjustments to their overall grades. Each school’s qualitative score was subject to an intercoder reliability check, with agreement by at least three reviewers required in order to assign a score.
[1] Current laws in numerous states (including Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Arizona, Wisconsin, Alabama and Kansas) prohibit or limit the ability of public colleges and universities to mandate antisemitism training for students, staff and/or faculty. Therefore, public colleges and universities in these states are deemed to have fully fulfilled the antisemitism education criterion if they offer optional or voluntary antisemitism education. Public colleges and universities in Arizona and Wisconsin are impacted by legislative efforts in their states to prohibit or limit types of diversity training that could encompass mandatory antisemitism training for students, staff and/or faculty. Therefore, public colleges and universities in these states are also deemed to have fulfilled the antisemitism education criterion if they offer optional or voluntary antisemitism education.