A new congressional report on antisemitism in higher education concludes that incidents targeting Jewish students are widespread across U.S. college campuses and driven by systemic factors within universities.
The report states that “83 percent of Jewish students have experienced or witnessed antisemitism” since the October 7 attacks, citing survey data included in its findings . It adds that antisemitism “is a systemic problem that affects a broad swath of America’s colleges and universities,” rather than being limited to a handful of high-profile institutions .
According to the report, multiple drivers contribute to the issue, including campus leadership, faculty influence, and organized student activity. It concludes that “faculty members have played a significant role in legitimizing and amplifying antisemitism on college campuses,” including through course content, programming, and protest activity .
Student groups are also highlighted, with the report identifying organizations such as Students for Justice in Palestine as “ringleaders for the antisemitic harassment faced by Jewish students on campus” .
The findings emphasize the role of institutional leadership, stating that “decisive, strong leadership by university presidents is critical for preventing and correcting a hostile antisemitic environment,” while campuses lacking such leadership allowed antisemitism “to proliferate unchecked” .
The report also links certain academic frameworks and campus teachings to rising tensions, arguing that some approaches “fuel antisemitism on college campuses” by reinforcing negative stereotypes about Jews and Israel .
In one statistical finding, the report notes that campuses with certain affiliated faculty groups were “seven times more likely to experience violence against Jews,” pointing to disparities across institutions .
Federal obligations are also addressed. The report states that universities receiving federal funding “have a legal obligation to protect Jewish students under Title VI,” warning that failure to do so undermines nondiscrimination protections and student safety .
The report concludes that without stronger enforcement, accountability, and leadership, antisemitism will continue to affect campus environments nationwide, with implications for both student safety and broader academic discourse.
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