Washington University (WashU) has once again received a B grade in the latest Campus Antisemitism Report Card, an annual assessment by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that tracks antisemitism on U.S. college campuses.
The ADL report evaluates colleges based on their campus policies, responses to antisemitic incidents and student government actions. The University of Kansas also received a B, while Indiana University Bloomington and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign were graded C. Meanwhile, Barnard College, which made headlines last week after pro-Palestinian protests turned violent, saw its grade drop from a C to a D, following university responses to the unrest.
How the ADL selects schools for evaluation
The ADL’s assessment includes 85 colleges, chosen based on factors such as Jewish student population size and institutional prominence. The selection process prioritizes the top 30 private and public campuses with the highest Jewish enrollment, along with the top national and liberal arts colleges ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Schools with over 500 Jewish undergraduate students were also considered. Looking ahead, the ADL has indicated plans to expand its assessments to include more universities that Jewish students frequently attend.
Regionally, the University of Missouri and Saint Louis University were not included in the ADL’s report.
WashU’s proactive approach
WashU Chancellor Andrew Martin has been a vocal leader in combating campus antisemitism, the Jewish Light reported on Feb. 28 that Martin would appear and speak at the ADL’s “Never Is Now” summit, the world’s largest annual gathering dedicated to fighting antisemitism. There, he is expected to emphasize the need for university leaders to ensure that free expression does not become a cover for harassment or intimidation.
“Now more than ever, we must define who we are and what we stand for,” Martin said in advance of the summit. “Only by keeping our focus squarely on our missions will we be able to fulfill our promise to our communities and to our nation and restore trust in American higher education.”
“Increasingly, outside agitators are exploiting open campuses to push antisemitic rhetoric,” added Jordan Kadosh, regional director of ADL Heartland. “Chancellor Martin has set an example of how university leaders can take decisive action to protect Jewish students.”
WashU has implemented several key initiatives, including mandatory antisemitism education for students and faculty, strong partnerships with WashU Hillel and Chabad and clear policies defining the boundaries between free speech and hate speech. These measures have helped the university maintain its B rating in an increasingly volatile environment for Jewish students nationwide.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, WashU has quietly welcomed transfer students from colleges where antisemitism has become pervasive, offering them a safer learning environment. This move has reinforced the university’s reputation as a sanctuary for Jewish students, even as other schools struggle to create inclusive spaces.
What will it take for WashU to earn an A?
Despite WashU’s proactive measures—mandatory antisemitism education, strong partnerships with Jewish organizations and direct support for Jewish students—the university still received a B. The ADL’s report does not clearly outline what differentiates an A from a B, leaving room for further inquiry.
In a request for clarification, the Jewish Light asked the ADL: “Washington University has implemented a range of proactive measures to combat antisemitism, from mandatory education and policy enforcement to offering transfer opportunities for Jewish students seeking safer environments. Given these efforts, what specific criteria or additional actions would be necessary for WashU to earn an A grade in future assessments?”
The ADL responded that while WashU and Martin have made combating antisemitism a priority and have been models for handling campus disruptions, a few key policy improvements could help them reach an A grade. These include integrating antisemitism into the university’s Code of Conduct, establishing a dedicated task force to address antisemitism or strengthen Jewish life on campus and mandating antisemitism education for all students and faculty.
National trends
The ADL’s report found that 46% of the 85 schools assessed improved their grades over the past year, with 34% seeing a one-letter grade increase. However, 20% of schools received a D, underscoring persistent challenges on some campuses.
Schools in states like California and New York had some of the lowest grades, with universities such as Columbia University and University of California, Berkeley, receiving D ratings due to active litigation, recent anti-Zionist student government actions and reports of antisemitic incidents. Meanwhile, some institutions, such as Brandeis University and Elon University, received A ratings for their proactive efforts in supporting Jewish students and combating antisemitism.
The ADL recognized several universities for implementing new measures to combat antisemitism in 2024, awarding commendations to institutions that strengthened protections, improved reporting mechanisms, or revised their speech codes to address hate speech.
Nearly 20% of the 85 assessed schools received a D or F grade, with institutions such as Harvard, MIT and Northwestern among those with failing marks. The ADL cited a lack of proactive administrative responses and an increase in antisemitic incidents as major contributing factors.
The ADL’s report is still evolving. Initially focusing on 85 colleges, the ADL plans to expand its assessments in future editions, considering more universities frequently attended by Jewish students.
As universities grapple with rising antisemitism, WashU’s continued efforts set a noteworthy example—yet the ADL’s findings suggest there is still room for improvement in ensuring safer, more inclusive campuses nationwide.
