University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) has a Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

In March 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced it was opening a Title VI investigation into UCSB.

In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights entered into a resolution agreement with UCSB, outlining a series of actions that the University must take to address antisemitism on campus.

In March 2025, UC Santa Barbara was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI.

In December 2025, a student filed a federal Title VI lawsuit against UCSB regarding antisemitism that occurred during the 2023-24 academic year.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In February 2024, signs were posted on the door of the UCSB MultiCultural Center (MCC) that read “Zionists not welcome,” and “Stay out of our kitchen too!” Other hateful and anti-Zionist signs inside the Center targeted the Jewish student body president by name. The Feminist Studies Department, some faculty in Black Studies, and some faculty in Chicana and Chicano Studies all issued statements on department websites about the MCC incident, but none of those statements acknowledged the antisemitic nature of some of the signs.

In May 2024, UCSB Workers for Palestine led a campus walkout, with several midterms and classes being cancelled or rescheduled as a result. In June 2024, UCSB academic workers joined other UC campuses in striking following the dismantling of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on campus.

In February 2025, a California lawmaker wrote a letter to UCSB requesting an explanation for the University’s sponsorship and promotion of an “Anti-Palestinian Racism” workshop led by Academics for Justice in Palestine (AJP) – a workshop that undermined the significance of Zionism to the Jewish identity.

In October 2025, a student said within earshot of his Jewish roommate, "It would give me a lot of pride as a German to murder a Jew."

In November 2025, an AEPi student had his Star of David necklace ripped from his neck and stolen. That same month, at least 4 individuals hurled antisemitic slurs at AEPi members – including “can you smell these coins with your nose” - before throwing a stolen bike over the fraternity house fence, damaging the property.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University has issued multiple statements condemning antisemitism, including in response to the February 2024 incident at the MCC and the series of incidents targeting AEPi that occurred during the 2025-26 academic year. It has repeatedly reaffirmed applicable codes of student and faculty conduct. The Chancellor’s office has indicated that UCSB’s Division of Student Affairs has hosted community gatherings, support groups, trainings, and workshops, and has encouraged reporting of bias incidents.

In August 2024, University of California President Drake launched a UC-wide Campus Climate Initiative to help all UC locations develop campus climate action plans for Fall 2024 and beyond. President Drake also issued a directive to all UC campuses to make clear to their campus communities that certain activities – including encampments, masking to conceal identities, and restricting free movement – are prohibited.

In March 2025, the University announced the establishment of a Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Antisemitism, which will offer guidance and recommendations about how to ensure that there is a safe and inclusive environment on campus for Jewish- and Israeli-identifying members of the campus community. The specific membership of the committee was announced in July 2025. The committee meets quarterly with the Chancellor.

The University’s Ombuds Office offers civil discourse workshops for faculty, staff, and students called Critical Conversations. Campus faculty and staff have also launched a Jewish employee affinity group, the Jewish Faculty and Staff Association.

The University’s Dean of Students Office has partnered with the University’s Restorative Justice Program to launch a set of interfaith engagement efforts, including connecting with local community faith leaders across faith traditions and with student organizations that identify as religious or spiritual to inform and shape interfaith programming.

University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) has a Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

In March 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced it was opening a Title VI investigation into UCSB.

In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights entered into a resolution agreement with UCSB, outlining a series of actions that the University must take to address antisemitism on campus.

In March 2025, UC Santa Barbara was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI.

In December 2025, a student filed a federal Title VI lawsuit against UCSB regarding antisemitism that occurred during the 2023-24 academic year.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In February 2024, signs were posted on the door of the UCSB MultiCultural Center (MCC) that read “Zionists not welcome,” and “Stay out of our kitchen too!” Other hateful and anti-Zionist signs inside the Center targeted the Jewish student body president by name. The Feminist Studies Department, some faculty in Black Studies, and some faculty in Chicana and Chicano Studies all issued statements on department websites about the MCC incident, but none of those statements acknowledged the antisemitic nature of some of the signs.

In May 2024, UCSB Workers for Palestine led a campus walkout, with several midterms and classes being cancelled or rescheduled as a result. In June 2024, UCSB academic workers joined other UC campuses in striking following the dismantling of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on campus.

In February 2025, a California lawmaker wrote a letter to UCSB requesting an explanation for the University’s sponsorship and promotion of an “Anti-Palestinian Racism” workshop led by Academics for Justice in Palestine (AJP) – a workshop that undermined the significance of Zionism to the Jewish identity.

In October 2025, a student said within earshot of his Jewish roommate, "It would give me a lot of pride as a German to murder a Jew."

In November 2025, an AEPi student had his Star of David necklace ripped from his neck and stolen. That same month, at least 4 individuals hurled antisemitic slurs at AEPi members – including “can you smell these coins with your nose” - before throwing a stolen bike over the fraternity house fence, damaging the property.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University has issued multiple statements condemning antisemitism, including in response to the February 2024 incident at the MCC and the series of incidents targeting AEPi that occurred during the 2025-26 academic year. It has repeatedly reaffirmed applicable codes of student and faculty conduct. The Chancellor’s office has indicated that UCSB’s Division of Student Affairs has hosted community gatherings, support groups, trainings, and workshops, and has encouraged reporting of bias incidents.

In August 2024, University of California President Drake launched a UC-wide Campus Climate Initiative to help all UC locations develop campus climate action plans for Fall 2024 and beyond. President Drake also issued a directive to all UC campuses to make clear to their campus communities that certain activities – including encampments, masking to conceal identities, and restricting free movement – are prohibited.

In March 2025, the University announced the establishment of a Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Antisemitism, which will offer guidance and recommendations about how to ensure that there is a safe and inclusive environment on campus for Jewish- and Israeli-identifying members of the campus community. The specific membership of the committee was announced in July 2025. The committee meets quarterly with the Chancellor.

The University’s Ombuds Office offers civil discourse workshops for faculty, staff, and students called Critical Conversations. Campus faculty and staff have also launched a Jewish employee affinity group, the Jewish Faculty and Staff Association.

The University’s Dean of Students Office has partnered with the University’s Restorative Justice Program to launch a set of interfaith engagement efforts, including connecting with local community faith leaders across faith traditions and with student organizations that identify as religious or spiritual to inform and shape interfaith programming.

University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) has a Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

In March 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced it was opening a Title VI investigation into UCSB.

In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights entered into a resolution agreement with UCSB, outlining a series of actions that the University must take to address antisemitism on campus.

In March 2025, UC Santa Barbara was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI.

In December 2025, a student filed a federal Title VI lawsuit against UCSB regarding antisemitism that occurred during the 2023-24 academic year.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In February 2024, signs were posted on the door of the UCSB MultiCultural Center (MCC) that read “Zionists not welcome,” and “Stay out of our kitchen too!” Other hateful and anti-Zionist signs inside the Center targeted the Jewish student body president by name. The Feminist Studies Department, some faculty in Black Studies, and some faculty in Chicana and Chicano Studies all issued statements on department websites about the MCC incident, but none of those statements acknowledged the antisemitic nature of some of the signs.

In May 2024, UCSB Workers for Palestine led a campus walkout, with several midterms and classes being cancelled or rescheduled as a result. In June 2024, UCSB academic workers joined other UC campuses in striking following the dismantling of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on campus.

In February 2025, a California lawmaker wrote a letter to UCSB requesting an explanation for the University’s sponsorship and promotion of an “Anti-Palestinian Racism” workshop led by Academics for Justice in Palestine (AJP) – a workshop that undermined the significance of Zionism to the Jewish identity.

In October 2025, a student said within earshot of his Jewish roommate, "It would give me a lot of pride as a German to murder a Jew."

In November 2025, an AEPi student had his Star of David necklace ripped from his neck and stolen. That same month, at least 4 individuals hurled antisemitic slurs at AEPi members – including “can you smell these coins with your nose” - before throwing a stolen bike over the fraternity house fence, damaging the property.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University has issued multiple statements condemning antisemitism, including in response to the February 2024 incident at the MCC and the series of incidents targeting AEPi that occurred during the 2025-26 academic year. It has repeatedly reaffirmed applicable codes of student and faculty conduct. The Chancellor’s office has indicated that UCSB’s Division of Student Affairs has hosted community gatherings, support groups, trainings, and workshops, and has encouraged reporting of bias incidents.

In August 2024, University of California President Drake launched a UC-wide Campus Climate Initiative to help all UC locations develop campus climate action plans for Fall 2024 and beyond. President Drake also issued a directive to all UC campuses to make clear to their campus communities that certain activities – including encampments, masking to conceal identities, and restricting free movement – are prohibited.

In March 2025, the University announced the establishment of a Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Antisemitism, which will offer guidance and recommendations about how to ensure that there is a safe and inclusive environment on campus for Jewish- and Israeli-identifying members of the campus community. The specific membership of the committee was announced in July 2025. The committee meets quarterly with the Chancellor.

The University’s Ombuds Office offers civil discourse workshops for faculty, staff, and students called Critical Conversations. Campus faculty and staff have also launched a Jewish employee affinity group, the Jewish Faculty and Staff Association.

The University’s Dean of Students Office has partnered with the University’s Restorative Justice Program to launch a set of interfaith engagement efforts, including connecting with local community faith leaders across faith traditions and with student organizations that identify as religious or spiritual to inform and shape interfaith programming.