University of Washington, Evergreen State, University of Oregon and Portland State University receive failing grades for inadequately addressing antisemitism on campus
Seattle, WA. March 3, 2025 … ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) gave 36% of schools an A or B in its 2025 Campus Antisemitism Report Card, up from 23.5% in 2024. The updated evaluation of how U.S. colleges and universities are addressing antisemitism assessed 135 schools—50 more than last year—using 30 evaluation criteria to assign letter grades from A to F. Four universities were assessed for the first time in Oregon and Washington.
Additional Key Findings:
- Nationally, 21 percent of schools received a D, and 9.6 percent received an F and 45 percent of previously graded schools improved, while only 9 percent declined.
- Failing schools in Washington and Oregon: University of Oregon and University of Washington (D grades) and Portland State University and Evergreen State (F grades).
In fall 2024, the University of Oregon saw an increase in reported incidents of antisemitismon campus with reports of swastikas were tagged next to photos of Jewish students in residential dormitories. In the same month, University of Washington President Ana Marie Cauce’s home and car were targeted with anti-Israel and antisemitic vandalism. Graffiti tagged on her property made claims the president is “complicit in genocide” referring to the war between Israel and Hamas. The perpetrators of the graffiti also threatened “to escalate” actions until demands were met.
“Since Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel, we have heard directly from Jewish students and faculty that they feel unsafe on campus,” ADL Pacific Northwest Regional Director Miri Cypers said. “Campuses are meant to be safe and welcoming spaces for all students – not just some. Our hope is that this Report Card shines a light on antisemitism with the hopes of improving life on campus for every student.”
Why Are Some Schools Improving?
Outside of the Pacific Northwest region, more than 50 percent of the schools assessed in 2024 across the country have enacted major policy changes in response to rising campus antisemitism; almost all have revised their demonstration policies.
Universities that strengthen and consistently enforce policies, mandate antisemitism education, and improve bias reporting have seen the most progress.
“We are already working directly with universities in the area to guide them and partner with them in improving campus life for Jewish students,” Cypers adds. “To note, the University of Washington released its first Climate Assessment and Reports from its Antisemitism and Islamophobia Task Forces in October 2024. This was a welcomed first step in addressing the scary reality for many students on campus and we hope UW uses these findings to build more robust policies and practices to mitigate campus crises and keep students safe going forward.”
A recent ADL survey conducted with partners found 83 percent of Jewish college students experienced or witnessed antisemitism since the Oct. 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, and that 66 percent of Jewish students were not confident in their university’s ability to prevent antisemitic incidents.
The Campus Antisemitism Report Card is a project of the ADL Ronald Birnbaum Center to Combat Antisemitism in Education (CCAE) and the newly launched Ratings and Assessments Institute (RAI).
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.