The University of Colorado, Boulder (CU Boulder) has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

The school’s Ethnic Studies and Women and Gender Studies departments have issued anti-Israel statements in recent years, accusing the Jewish state of “genocide” and “apartheid.” The most recent statement, released by the Ethnic Studies Department weeks after the October 7 Hamas attack said, “We also reject the language of 'terrorism' used by the US and Israel to justify the Israeli state killing machine.” The statement was eventually removed but replaced by a “Statement for Peace” that included links to Jewish Voice for Peace.

Other recent incidents have included a Jewish CU Boulder student receiving a death threat on social media after he created a page to support the Jewish community and Israel in November 2023 and an individual reportedly stating, "Oh you're in AEPi, you're a kike" to a Jewish student.

The campus has also experienced challenges with some programs holding exams during Jewish holidays.

In November 2024, a car parked at a residence hall at University of Colorado, Boulder displayed a swastika. In October 2024, a Star of David and the word "Jew" were spray-painted outside the dorm of a Jewish student. That same month, graffiti was spray-painted on campus that read "Hamas is resistance" with an inverted red triangle, a symbol that first appeared in propaganda videos promoted by Hamas.

University Policies and Responsive Action

University administrators have distanced themselves from the Ethnic Studies Department statement, saying that “any expression that aims to harass or demean others is antithetical to our values as an institution.” The University has participated in several community conversations on the Jewish experience on campus, and its Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance offers support and resources to students.

The University system explicitly notes that it “construes antisemitism, Islamophobia, and caste to be included within the university’s current prohibitions on discrimination or harassment,” and defines antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jewish people which may be expressed as hatred.” The updated policy additionally includes language prohibiting conduct that could create a hostile environment based on any protected class.

In alignment with the updated system-wide policy, the CU System Office of Ethics, Risk and Compliance also issued guidance regarding Antisemitic and Anti-Islamic harassment. These updated antisemitism- and Islamophobia-related policies are now reflected in both CU Boulder’s required online course for all first- and second-year undergraduate students and incoming graduate students and the in-person training for incoming students. Similarly, the SkillSoft course for employees has been updated as of September 2024 to include an additional quiz question that relates to antisemitism. The University also facilitates bystander intervention training.

In October 2024, the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine was declared to be in bad standing, meaning it can no longer operate as a registered student organization.

Commendations

On October 30, 2024, ADL issued a commendation to University of Colorado, Boulder for the actions and policies implemented by the administration to combat antisemitism on campus in advance of the 2024 fall semester.

The University of Colorado, Boulder (CU Boulder) has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

The school’s Ethnic Studies and Women and Gender Studies departments have issued anti-Israel statements in recent years, accusing the Jewish state of “genocide” and “apartheid.” The most recent statement, released by the Ethnic Studies Department weeks after the October 7 Hamas attack said, “We also reject the language of 'terrorism' used by the US and Israel to justify the Israeli state killing machine.” The statement was eventually removed but replaced by a “Statement for Peace” that included links to Jewish Voice for Peace.

Other recent incidents have included a Jewish CU Boulder student receiving a death threat on social media after he created a page to support the Jewish community and Israel in November 2023 and an individual reportedly stating, "Oh you're in AEPi, you're a kike" to a Jewish student.

The campus has also experienced challenges with some programs holding exams during Jewish holidays.

In November 2024, a car parked at a residence hall at University of Colorado, Boulder displayed a swastika. In October 2024, a Star of David and the word "Jew" were spray-painted outside the dorm of a Jewish student. That same month, graffiti was spray-painted on campus that read "Hamas is resistance" with an inverted red triangle, a symbol that first appeared in propaganda videos promoted by Hamas.

University Policies and Responsive Action

University administrators have distanced themselves from the Ethnic Studies Department statement, saying that “any expression that aims to harass or demean others is antithetical to our values as an institution.” The University has participated in several community conversations on the Jewish experience on campus, and its Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance offers support and resources to students.

The University system explicitly notes that it “construes antisemitism, Islamophobia, and caste to be included within the university’s current prohibitions on discrimination or harassment,” and defines antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jewish people which may be expressed as hatred.” The updated policy additionally includes language prohibiting conduct that could create a hostile environment based on any protected class.

In alignment with the updated system-wide policy, the CU System Office of Ethics, Risk and Compliance also issued guidance regarding Antisemitic and Anti-Islamic harassment. These updated antisemitism- and Islamophobia-related policies are now reflected in both CU Boulder’s required online course for all first- and second-year undergraduate students and incoming graduate students and the in-person training for incoming students. Similarly, the SkillSoft course for employees has been updated as of September 2024 to include an additional quiz question that relates to antisemitism. The University also facilitates bystander intervention training.

In October 2024, the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine was declared to be in bad standing, meaning it can no longer operate as a registered student organization.

Commendations

On October 30, 2024, ADL issued a commendation to University of Colorado, Boulder for the actions and policies implemented by the administration to combat antisemitism on campus in advance of the 2024 fall semester.