Hillel Campus Climate Initiative
This flagship program provides a comprehensive strategy to help college and university presidents and campus administrators counter antisemitism, and build a campus climate in which Jewish students feel comfortable expressing their identity.
56% of Jewish college students say their lives have been directly impacted by antisemitism on campus since October 7.
Antisemitic incidents on college campuses have increased by over 700% since last year.
The Campus Climate Initiative (CCI) collaborates with higher education administrators to ensure a positive campus climate in which Jewish students feel comfortable expressing their identity and values, free of antisemitism, harassment, or marginalization. We recognize that key administrative leaders play an essential role in effecting broad-based educational and policy change on campus, and that partnerships between campuses and Hillels can catalyze positive changes that benefit Jewish students and all students. The CCI model involves partnership between the college or university administration, local Hillel, and the CCI team. To date, more than 70 colleges and universities in North America participate in the Campus Climate Initiative. See below for the list of campuses that have received support and training from CCI since its start.
Best Practices and Principles:
Colleges and universities across the United States currently are facing serious challenges to bedrock goals and values of higher education: the discovery and dissemination of knowledge, and respect for free inquiry and diversity of viewpoints. Hillel International and the Academic Engagement Network have partnered to create this statement of Best Practices and Principles to assist higher education leaders and administrators in protecting and advancing these goals and values.
The Campus Climate Initiative (CCI) provides college and university administrators with opportunities to seriously explore these topics — and create meaningful action plans — alongside a community of peers from institutions around North America. This collaborative, educational, and practical experience offers administrators on participating campuses, in partnership with their local Hillel professionals, to engage together with us in:
- Gathering, assessing, and utilizing data to better understand the current climate for Jewish students in their campus community and to inform strategic next steps
- Training and empowering university administration and staff to better understand the needs of Jewish students, the diversity of the Jewish community, and the challenges of antisemitism on campus
- Creating and adopting best practice policies, procedures, and programs to address antisemitism and foster a positive campus climate for Jewish students and all students
As part of the participant experience, participating campuses will:
- Build a coalition to combat antisemitism
- Participate in a professional community of practice that centers peer-to-peer learning with colleagues who share a commitment to inclusive campus communities for all students
- Engage in campus-specific work to implement data-informed action steps to foster a positive, inclusive, and welcoming campus climate for Jewish students and all students.
- Receive ongoing support from Hillel International professionals to sustain an inclusive campus culture for all students
Making Jewish students feel that they belong and are supported is a key university priority, a priority that our Hillel CCI work enables us to better meet.
– Lynn Mahoney, San Francisco State University President
CCI Participants
More than 100 colleges and universities participate in the Campus Climate Initiative.
Protecting Jewish College Students
Jewish students should feel comfortable expressing their identity on campus. Always. Join the Campus Climate Initiative and explore tools to help our students feel supported through awareness, allyship, and action.