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.

What’s Happening on Campus?

UVA officials acknowledge there have been dozens of recent reports of antisemitic activity. One Jewish student said he has received death threats since Oct. 7, was physically assaulted while counterprotesting at an anti-Israel walkout and has been called antisemitic slurs.

UVA students also 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 pending an investigation after their Jewish housemate said 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. 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 President Ryan – was thereafter disbanded by state police.

In August 2024, the University of Virginia Task Force on Religious Diversity and Belonging released their first report, outlining their initial key findings and recommendations, including ones related to strengthening religious accommodations and addressing religious-based bias and harassment. In response to the report, the University committed to implementing a number of recommendations.

The University 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 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 will not be cutting financial ties with Israel.

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 has also hosted an antisemitism training day that was attended by 120+ employees from departments such as DEI and 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.

What’s Happening on Campus?

UVA officials acknowledge there have been dozens of recent reports of antisemitic activity. One Jewish student said he has received death threats since Oct. 7, was physically assaulted while counterprotesting at an anti-Israel walkout and has been called antisemitic slurs.

UVA students also 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 pending an investigation after their Jewish housemate said 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. 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 President Ryan – was thereafter disbanded by state police.

In August 2024, the University of Virginia Task Force on Religious Diversity and Belonging released their first report, outlining their initial key findings and recommendations, including ones related to strengthening religious accommodations and addressing religious-based bias and harassment. In response to the report, the University committed to implementing a number of recommendations.

The University 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 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 will not be cutting financial ties with Israel.

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 has also hosted an antisemitism training day that was attended by 120+ employees from departments such as DEI and Student Affairs.