The University of Virginia (UVA) has a Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

In December 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation against UVA. In March 2025, UVA was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI.

In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice closed an investigation into the University’s response to allegations of antisemitic discrimination at UVA.

What’s Happening on Campus?

UVA students passed a referendum in the Spring of 2024 calling for divestment from companies that do business with Israel. Prior to the referendum, an art history professor at the college canceled her class in solidarity with the divestment movement.

In September 2024, the UVA Hillel received an anonymous letter that included a news clipping related to Benjamin Netanyahu and the message: "You all, I hope, understand that the more killing this so called leader calls for--including the most recent one--the worse it gets for you all. Are you all concerned for your personal safety not to mention that of your homebase? The sound that evening(s) of November 1938 are not too far off."

In December 2024, two UVA students were suspended after their Jewish housemate reported to the University and law enforcement that one of them acquired a gun and the other threatened him with it.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University created a task force on Religious Diversity and Belonging in December 2023, charged with assessing reports of antisemitic incidents and recommending educational offerings. Then-UVA President Jim Ryan also spoke out against the divestment resolution, saying the school should not use its investment strategy to take sides on a “complex and deeply contested” issue.

In April 2024, anti-Israel protestors at the University began a demonstration. While initially peaceful, violations of policies were recorded a few days in, leading administrators to issue a number of requests for protesters to comply with University policies. The protest – labelled as “upsetting, frightening, and sad” by then-President Ryan – was thereafter disbanded by state police.

In August 2024, the University of Virginia Task Force on Religious Diversity and Belonging released its first report, outlining its initial key findings and recommendations, including ones related to strengthening religious accommodations and addressing religious-based bias and harassment. At the recommendation of the Task Force, the University created and filled a position called the Program Coordinator for Interfaith Engagement.

The University had updated its policies on time, place, and manner restrictions for campus protests after white supremacists marched across campus during the “Unite the Right” rally in 2017. Ahead of the 2024-25 academic year, the University again updated its policies relating to expressive activities, including by outlining clear time, place, and manner policies.

In September 2024, the University of Virginia Investment Management Company announced that it would not be cutting financial ties with Israel.

In May 2025, the University announced that it had hired a new Civil Rights Response Coordinator to coordinate with other University offices in responding to all reports of potential discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, including reports involving antisemitism. In October 2025, the UVA Jewish Studies department celebrated its 25-Year Anniversary.

The University requires all students and employees to take a course on preventing and addressing discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, which includes specific content regarding antisemitism. Additionally, the University engages in a number of other educational and training opportunities, with the UVA Safety and Security committee organizing a Fall 2024 all-day training for staff in collaboration with the Academic Engagement Network (AEN), Boundless Israel, and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (LDB) to build skills in understanding and responding to antisemitism on campus. The University has also hosted an “Enabling Difficult Conversations” event series.

The University is also a participant in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative.

The University has a close relationship with Hillel and the Jewish Leadership Advisory Board, meeting frequently with representatives from these groups. The University Safety & Security department hosted a day consisting of trainings on antisemitism that was attended by 120+ employees from departments beyond the security department, including Student Affairs.

The University of Virginia (UVA) has a Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

In December 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation against UVA. In March 2025, UVA was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI.

In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice closed an investigation into the University’s response to allegations of antisemitic discrimination at UVA.

What’s Happening on Campus?

UVA students passed a referendum in the Spring of 2024 calling for divestment from companies that do business with Israel. Prior to the referendum, an art history professor at the college canceled her class in solidarity with the divestment movement.

In September 2024, the UVA Hillel received an anonymous letter that included a news clipping related to Benjamin Netanyahu and the message: "You all, I hope, understand that the more killing this so called leader calls for--including the most recent one--the worse it gets for you all. Are you all concerned for your personal safety not to mention that of your homebase? The sound that evening(s) of November 1938 are not too far off."

In December 2024, two UVA students were suspended after their Jewish housemate reported to the University and law enforcement that one of them acquired a gun and the other threatened him with it.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University created a task force on Religious Diversity and Belonging in December 2023, charged with assessing reports of antisemitic incidents and recommending educational offerings. Then-UVA President Jim Ryan also spoke out against the divestment resolution, saying the school should not use its investment strategy to take sides on a “complex and deeply contested” issue.

In April 2024, anti-Israel protestors at the University began a demonstration. While initially peaceful, violations of policies were recorded a few days in, leading administrators to issue a number of requests for protesters to comply with University policies. The protest – labelled as “upsetting, frightening, and sad” by then-President Ryan – was thereafter disbanded by state police.

In August 2024, the University of Virginia Task Force on Religious Diversity and Belonging released its first report, outlining its initial key findings and recommendations, including ones related to strengthening religious accommodations and addressing religious-based bias and harassment. At the recommendation of the Task Force, the University created and filled a position called the Program Coordinator for Interfaith Engagement.

The University had updated its policies on time, place, and manner restrictions for campus protests after white supremacists marched across campus during the “Unite the Right” rally in 2017. Ahead of the 2024-25 academic year, the University again updated its policies relating to expressive activities, including by outlining clear time, place, and manner policies.

In September 2024, the University of Virginia Investment Management Company announced that it would not be cutting financial ties with Israel.

In May 2025, the University announced that it had hired a new Civil Rights Response Coordinator to coordinate with other University offices in responding to all reports of potential discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, including reports involving antisemitism. In October 2025, the UVA Jewish Studies department celebrated its 25-Year Anniversary.

The University requires all students and employees to take a course on preventing and addressing discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, which includes specific content regarding antisemitism. Additionally, the University engages in a number of other educational and training opportunities, with the UVA Safety and Security committee organizing a Fall 2024 all-day training for staff in collaboration with the Academic Engagement Network (AEN), Boundless Israel, and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (LDB) to build skills in understanding and responding to antisemitism on campus. The University has also hosted an “Enabling Difficult Conversations” event series.

The University is also a participant in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative.

The University has a close relationship with Hillel and the Jewish Leadership Advisory Board, meeting frequently with representatives from these groups. The University Safety & Security department hosted a day consisting of trainings on antisemitism that was attended by 120+ employees from departments beyond the security department, including Student Affairs.

The University of Virginia (UVA) has a Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

In December 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation against UVA. In March 2025, UVA was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI.

In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice closed an investigation into the University’s response to allegations of antisemitic discrimination at UVA.

What’s Happening on Campus?

UVA students passed a referendum in the Spring of 2024 calling for divestment from companies that do business with Israel. Prior to the referendum, an art history professor at the college canceled her class in solidarity with the divestment movement.

In September 2024, the UVA Hillel received an anonymous letter that included a news clipping related to Benjamin Netanyahu and the message: "You all, I hope, understand that the more killing this so called leader calls for--including the most recent one--the worse it gets for you all. Are you all concerned for your personal safety not to mention that of your homebase? The sound that evening(s) of November 1938 are not too far off."

In December 2024, two UVA students were suspended after their Jewish housemate reported to the University and law enforcement that one of them acquired a gun and the other threatened him with it.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University created a task force on Religious Diversity and Belonging in December 2023, charged with assessing reports of antisemitic incidents and recommending educational offerings. Then-UVA President Jim Ryan also spoke out against the divestment resolution, saying the school should not use its investment strategy to take sides on a “complex and deeply contested” issue.

In April 2024, anti-Israel protestors at the University began a demonstration. While initially peaceful, violations of policies were recorded a few days in, leading administrators to issue a number of requests for protesters to comply with University policies. The protest – labelled as “upsetting, frightening, and sad” by then-President Ryan – was thereafter disbanded by state police.

In August 2024, the University of Virginia Task Force on Religious Diversity and Belonging released its first report, outlining its initial key findings and recommendations, including ones related to strengthening religious accommodations and addressing religious-based bias and harassment. At the recommendation of the Task Force, the University created and filled a position called the Program Coordinator for Interfaith Engagement.

The University had updated its policies on time, place, and manner restrictions for campus protests after white supremacists marched across campus during the “Unite the Right” rally in 2017. Ahead of the 2024-25 academic year, the University again updated its policies relating to expressive activities, including by outlining clear time, place, and manner policies.

In September 2024, the University of Virginia Investment Management Company announced that it would not be cutting financial ties with Israel.

In May 2025, the University announced that it had hired a new Civil Rights Response Coordinator to coordinate with other University offices in responding to all reports of potential discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, including reports involving antisemitism. In October 2025, the UVA Jewish Studies department celebrated its 25-Year Anniversary.

The University requires all students and employees to take a course on preventing and addressing discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, which includes specific content regarding antisemitism. Additionally, the University engages in a number of other educational and training opportunities, with the UVA Safety and Security committee organizing a Fall 2024 all-day training for staff in collaboration with the Academic Engagement Network (AEN), Boundless Israel, and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (LDB) to build skills in understanding and responding to antisemitism on campus. The University has also hosted an “Enabling Difficult Conversations” event series.

The University is also a participant in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative.

The University has a close relationship with Hillel and the Jewish Leadership Advisory Board, meeting frequently with representatives from these groups. The University Safety & Security department hosted a day consisting of trainings on antisemitism that was attended by 120+ employees from departments beyond the security department, including Student Affairs.