Since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza, the Middle East has become an ever more contentious topic on U.S. college campuses. Many Jewish students and their parents have expressed concerns about campus safety and anti-semitism, and students are having to consider these factors in their college search. In June, Discovery College Consulting hosted a free webinar called “College Considerations for Jewish Students: A Webinar for Parents.” We were thrilled to have over 50 registrants.
During the webinar, we provided practical advice for parents and students. We shared resources for learning about Jewish life on college campuses and assessing how college staff, faculty, and administrators are responding to Jewish students’ concerns. We also discussed how students and families can find out what campus climates are really like for Jewish students.
There were many excellent questions from attendees including, “Should a student refrain from mentioning Israel or Judaism in their college essay?” and “Are there any schools you think Jewish students should take off of their college lists?” To hear our answers and more, we encourage you to watch the webinar here.
The situation in the Middle East and the climate on college campuses continue to evolve. As you make decisions about where to apply, we suggest you utilize the resources below and follow the news.
Hillel
- Hillel website: https://www.hillel.org
- Find out if a particular college has a Hillel chapter: https://www.hillel.org/find-a-hillel/ In each college profile you can find information on the Jewish Experience on campus and by scrolling further you’ll see the new Campus Climate for Jewish Students Section.
- To learn more about the Campus Climate Initiative: https://www.hillel.org/campus-climate-initiative/ Scroll down to see the list of participating colleges.
Chabad
- Chabad website: https://chabadoncampus.org Enter a college name to see if they have a Chabad House. You’ll also find contact information and a list of programs and services.
Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
- Antisemitism on Campus website: https://www.adl.org/antisemitism-campus
- Not on My Campus campaign: https://notoleranceforantisemitism.adl.org You’ll find resources and action items for parents, alumni and students. Scroll down to “For Parents: Ensure the Safety of Your Students” for a list of questions to ask when considering a college.
- Campus Antisemitism Report Card: https://www.adl.org/campus-antisemitism-report-card Check out this new tool that assigns a letter grade to colleges (note only 85 colleges are included to date). Click on View Details to see more information about each school.
- Sign up for the Campus Crisis Alert newsletter: https://www.adl.org/newsletter-signup
