Hillel, AJC, and ACE Convene College and University Presidents for Historic Summit on Campus Antisemitism

September 23, 2024

The summit, held September 22-23 in Washington, DC, was the largest-ever gathering of university presidents to address rising antisemitism on campus

Today, Hillel International, American Jewish Committee (AJC), and ACE concluded a landmark two-day College and University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism, held at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center. With nearly 80 university presidents and chancellors attending, the Summit marked the largest-ever gathering of college and university presidents to discuss the topic of confronting antisemitism on campus.

The presidents and chancellors in attendance at the Summit reflected the full diversity of American higher education, including the leaders of prominent research universities, public and private, as well as regional public universities, private liberal arts colleges, community colleges, Ivy League schools, and faith-based institutions.

After nearly 12 months of dramatically rising antisemitism on college campuses, university presidents benefited from panel discussions with leading subject-matter experts that explored the deep roots of contemporary antisemitism, discussed the relationship between free speech imperatives and creating a safe campus for all students, and delved into applications of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Presidents also participated in solutions-based working sessions where they learned from one another about the strategies that are already proving successful during the new academic year, and how to translate those approaches to their own campuses to foster inclusion and combat hate.

“As we seek to restore a safe and inclusive campus environment for all students, we’re proud to see how committed university leaders are to addressing rising antisemitism by participating in this critical Summit,” said Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman. “Just as we have for more than a century, Hillel will continue to work beside university presidents each and every day to ensure that Jewish students are protected and welcome on every college campus.”

“Universities play an outsized role in our broader society, encouraging values-driven leadership, the open exchange of ideas, and the principles that form the foundation of our democracy,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “Addressing the hate we’re witnessing on campus is not just essential for the safety and security of Jewish students in the quad, but also for the health of higher education in America. Only by ensuring that the voices of the Jewish community are not silenced can we ensure the free exchange of ideas, the importance of which extends beyond campus and forms the bedrock of our liberal democracy.”

“College and university presidents are committed to ensuring that Jewish students, along with all of our students, are on campuses that are safe places in which to learn and thrive academically and socially, and where at the same time robust and sometimes difficult conversations flourish,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “I'm proud that ACE was able to partner with AJC and Hillel International on this second College and University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism, and I am confident the more than 80 presidents who attended left better equipped to take on these tough issues and the challenges to come, to the benefit of all of our students and communities.”

In April of 2022, Hillel International, AJC, and ACE convened the first University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism in New York City, hosted by NYU. In the two years since, rates of antisemitism in the U.S. and on college and university campuses have risen to historically high levels, with antisemitic incidents on college campuses increasing from fewer than 300 in the 2022-2023 school year, to more than 1,800 in 2023-2024 following the October 7 attack on Israel. The current environment on campuses throughout the U.S. and Canada has required new approaches such as the ones discussed at this year’s conference.

Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels said, “Hopkins was honored to welcome leaders of universities and colleges across the nation that are grappling with the challenge of rising antisemitism. Holding this conversation in the heart of the nation’s capital reminds us of our founding ideals and what those ideals have meant to Jewish people here and around the world. Open discourse around ideas, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the sustenance of a pluralistic society that protects individuals’ rights undergird our democracy, and as universities, we have an indispensable role to play by reflecting and embodying these values to shape our nation for the better.”

NYU President Linda G. Mills said, “Antisemitism, which should have no foothold on our campuses, has had an appalling and heartbreaking surge. I was glad to be part of this Summit, which provided university leaders with important opportunities to exchange ideas; to stand united in pushing back against antisemitism; to commit to fostering safe and inclusive campuses where students may flourish free from harassment, discrimination, and threats; and to uphold our traditions of reasoned discourse.”

In addition to the Summit, earlier this year Hillel International and AJC launched an expanded partnership to work with college and university presidents to counter antisemitism on campus, through AJC’s new Center for Education Advocacy and Hillel International’s flagship Campus Climate Initiative. In 2025, AJC’s groundbreaking Project Interchange and Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative will host a joint delegation of college and university administrators from across the country to travel to Israel for an immersive learning program.

Additional Comments From Presidents Who Attended the Summit:

“I am profoundly grateful to Hillel International, AJC, and ACE for this opportunity to come together with so many distinguished university leaders at this historic Summit. Together, we are combating antisemitism, confronting hate, and building stronger, safer, and more inclusive communities, ones in which we are committed to rooting out the poisonous fruit of deeply held bigotries, and ones in which we will learn together and grow together in respect, understanding, and harmony.” – University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono

“Convening education leaders from across the nation for this important Summit is a necessary step in our collective responsibility toward fostering safe academic environments for the students we serve. Through dialogue and collaboration, we can share insights, strategies, and experiences that build upon our commitment to ensure every student feels valued and protected within our educational institutions.” – Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega

“At Goucher College, we have long valued the breadth of lived experience and perspectives that religious pluralism brings to our campus. By modeling for our students how to engage in difficult, sometimes contentious conversations about critical issues, as we discussed at this conference, we hope to prepare them to play an important role in fostering understanding in our society. Spirited debate and respectful listening are hallmarks of not only our democracy but foundational elements of a liberal arts education.” – Goucher College President Kent Devereaux