Wellesley College has a Hillel and Chabad.

Litigation & Investigations

Wellesley is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights after a civil rights complaint was filed in November 2023, alleging the College has improperly handled incidents of discrimination against Jews.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In November 2023, the Wellesley News published an op-ed that criticized Jewish students for having concerns about protesters using expressions like ‘Glory to our martyrs’ and ‘Intifada.’ In addition, just after the October 7 Hamas attack, residence hall leaders at Wellesley College sent an email to students living in a campus dorm that stated: "[There] should be no space, no consideration, and no support for Zionism within the Wellesley College community."

University Policies and Responsive Action

Wellesley created an Antisemitism Working Group (“AWG”) in the spring of 2023. Wellesley representatives participated in the Brandeis Leadership Symposium on Antisemitism in Higher Education in November 2023.

Wellesley has also developed anti-religious bias training for students and has been training community members on restorative justice principles and non-discrimination, including antisemitism. All residential life and orientation staff received the anti-religious bias training in fall 2024. In addition, Wellesley College requires all first-years, incoming Davis Scholars, exchange students, and transfer students to complete Title VI training, and a new ‘improving classroom culture’ training has been created for incoming faculty. The College has also focused on teaching constructive dialogue skills to members of the campus community

Wellesley’s President, Paula Johnson, has consistently released statements in support of the Jewish community, as well as reiterating her opposition to hostile anti-Zionist activities.

In 2022, the Wellesley College student newspaper endorsed the Mapping Project in connection with its endorsement of BDS and related issues. In response, President Johnson, released a statement calling it out as antisemitic, resulting in the editorial board changing its endorsement.

Ahead of the 2024-25 academic year, President Johnson sent an announcement to the Wellesley College Community, reminding the campus community of Wellesley College policies on demonstrations, academic freedom and nondiscrimination.

The College has also revised the process for recognition of student organizations to emphasize nondiscrimination requirements. During the 2024-25 academic year orientation, new students  participated in a session about how to keep Wellesley safe.

Commendations

On October 30, 2024, ADL issued a commendation to Wellesley College for the actions and policies implemented by the administration to combat antisemitism on campus in advance of the 2024 fall semester.

Wellesley College has a Hillel and Chabad.

Litigation & Investigations

Wellesley is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights after a civil rights complaint was filed in November 2023, alleging the College has improperly handled incidents of discrimination against Jews.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In November 2023, the Wellesley News published an op-ed that criticized Jewish students for having concerns about protesters using expressions like ‘Glory to our martyrs’ and ‘Intifada.’ In addition, just after the October 7 Hamas attack, residence hall leaders at Wellesley College sent an email to students living in a campus dorm that stated: "[There] should be no space, no consideration, and no support for Zionism within the Wellesley College community."

University Policies and Responsive Action

Wellesley created an Antisemitism Working Group (“AWG”) in the spring of 2023. Wellesley representatives participated in the Brandeis Leadership Symposium on Antisemitism in Higher Education in November 2023.

Wellesley has also developed anti-religious bias training for students and has been training community members on restorative justice principles and non-discrimination, including antisemitism. All residential life and orientation staff received the anti-religious bias training in fall 2024. In addition, Wellesley College requires all first-years, incoming Davis Scholars, exchange students, and transfer students to complete Title VI training, and a new ‘improving classroom culture’ training has been created for incoming faculty. The College has also focused on teaching constructive dialogue skills to members of the campus community

Wellesley’s President, Paula Johnson, has consistently released statements in support of the Jewish community, as well as reiterating her opposition to hostile anti-Zionist activities.

In 2022, the Wellesley College student newspaper endorsed the Mapping Project in connection with its endorsement of BDS and related issues. In response, President Johnson, released a statement calling it out as antisemitic, resulting in the editorial board changing its endorsement.

Ahead of the 2024-25 academic year, President Johnson sent an announcement to the Wellesley College Community, reminding the campus community of Wellesley College policies on demonstrations, academic freedom and nondiscrimination.

The College has also revised the process for recognition of student organizations to emphasize nondiscrimination requirements. During the 2024-25 academic year orientation, new students  participated in a session about how to keep Wellesley safe.

Commendations

On October 30, 2024, ADL issued a commendation to Wellesley College for the actions and policies implemented by the administration to combat antisemitism on campus in advance of the 2024 fall semester.