University responds to recommendations from the Working Group on Antisemitism

The University of Pittsburgh was founded on a commitment to progress, to discovery, and to the advancement of human dignity and respect. That commitment is inseparable from our responsibility to ensure that every member of our academic community can pursue their work and pursuits free from fear, harassment, and hatred, including antisemitism and other forms of identity-based harm. We recognize that members of our Jewish community have experienced harm, and we take that seriously.

The Working Group on Antisemitism was charged to improve our procedures, programs, and support systems through an honest assessment of where we are and how we can be better. With great appreciation, the members of the Working Group, including Chair Kathleen Blee, Distinguished Professor of Sociology in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences; Vice Chairs Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, Director of the Center for Governance and Markets, and Professor of International Affairs in the School of Public and International Affairs; and Paul Wallach, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Education and Executive Vice Dean, School of Medicine; as well as students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community voices, including a representative from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh have done exactly that, producing a report with both rigor and care. This response is informed not only by the Working Group's recommendations, but also by the experiences and incidents that gave rise to this review and underscored the need for continued institutional attention.

As the late first- and early second-century CE scholar Rabbi Tarfon reminds us: "It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it." In the pages that follow, the University provides its substantive response to the Working Group's recommendations, many of which have already been incorporated by the University. For others, including where longer-term structural change is required, we commit to thoughtful action. In these ways and more, we are committed to our Jewish community and to building a better tomorrow for our entire community.

Institutional Capacity and Title VI

The University agrees with the Working Group's emphasis on strong institutional capacity to address discrimination, harassment, and related concerns. Prior to the release of the report, the University had begun implementing updates to its organizational structure related to compliance, investigations, and well-being. Those efforts are aligned with many of the concerns identified by the Working Group and are intended to strengthen institutional coordination, clarity and responsiveness regarding Title VI matters.

Specifically, under this structure, Title VI compliance functions will be aligned within the Office of Compliance, Investigations & Ethics (CIE), which will be responsible for receiving reports, initiating investigations, tracking compliance, and overseeing reporting under Title VI and other civil rights authorities. Concerns or complaints implicating Title VI should continue to be brought through the Pitt Concern Connection, where case managers can route reports to the appropriate office for review and follow-up. At the same time, the Office of Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing (OIEW) will continue to play an important role in outreach, support, engagement, training, interim measures, accommodations, and broader campus climate and well-being efforts related to civil rights concerns. This structure is intended to provide greater clarity in compliance oversight while preserving coordinated support resources for students, faculty, and staff.

University Policies and Policy Review

The University affirms the report's call for continued attention to University policies and to ensuring that antisemitism and any other kind of harassment, intimidation, and discrimination are addressed through clear and enforceable institutional standards. We value the important concerns raised in the report and the importance of ensuring that our policies are transparent and responsive. At the same time, we also recognize that the free exchange of ideas is not easy, particularly when members of our community hold differing views on complex and deeply personal issues. Our path forward as a community is to further strengthen our commitment to dialogue and civil engagement. It is to promote initiatives that elevate respectful discourse, academic inquiry, and engagement across differences. It is to further opportunities for students to engage with diverse perspectives, from academic coursework and dialogue-based programming to international exchange. It is to ensure that our policies and practices align with legal requirements as a public institution in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including adherence to applicable state law prohibiting institutional participation in boycott, divestment, or sanctions (BDS) activities.

The university is also continuing its assessment of relevant policies through ongoing work led by the Office of University Counsel. As part of this effort, the University will refresh its free speech website by the end of the summer 2026, to address concerns raised in the report and provide clearer guidance regarding free expression, protest activity, and related institutional expectations. Work on these updates is already underway and is being coordinated with broader University efforts related to compliance, well-being, and belonging.

Free Speech, Protest Guidance, and Campus Climate

The University agrees that the campus community benefits from clear guidance regarding free speech protections, protest activity, and the distinction between protected expression and conduct that may violate University policy. As noted above, the University will update its free speech guidance to more clearly address these issues, including the "time, place, and manner" framework for demonstrations and the application of University policies in this area. T his includes clearer articulation of how violations are assessed and addressed when conduct crosses from protected expression into prohibited behavior.

The University recognizes that policy clarity alone is not sufficient; members of the campus community must also understand how those policies apply in practice and where to turn with concerns. Accordingly, this work will be connected to the University's broader efforts to support campus well-being and belonging, and the University will continue to align it with broader efforts related to campus climate, support, and institutional response, including through the University's wellness and belonging resources.

Training and Education

The University agrees with the Working Group that training and education are important components of prevention and response. The University will review its current training portfolio in partnership with the Office of Compliance, Investigations & Ethics and the Office of Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing to identify gaps and determine where additional or enhanced training is needed. As part of this work, the University will also engage members of the University community in considering next steps, including, in particular, members of the Working Group whose perspectives informed these recommendations.

The University's response in this area will take a broad approach to training and education. The goal is to ensure that students, faculty, and staff have access to information and learning opportunities that support understanding of identity-based hate including antisemitism, institutional expectations, reporting processes, and respectful community engagement. The University will assess existing training content and delivery mechanisms and determine where additions or revisions are appropriate.

Pedagogy, Faculty Role, and Shared Governance

The University recognizes the importance of the report's recommendations related to academic content, pedagogy, and classroom climate. At the same time, the University affirms that pedagogy and curricular integration are appropriately matters for faculty review and shared governance.

Accordingly, the University will ask faculty to consider these recommendations through the appropriate shared-governance and academic channels. The University values the role of faculty expertise and perspective in determining how relevant issues are addressed in teaching, curriculum, and classroom practice. This work should reflect both institutional concerns and the central role of faculty in shaping pedagogy. This process will also consider how to support faculty in navigating difficult classroom dynamics related to these issues.

Workshops, Programming, and Multifaith Engagement

The University agrees that workshops, programming, and opportunities for engagement are important parts of this work. The University has been expanding efforts in this area over the past two years through initiatives focused on civil discourse, dialogue, and constructive engagement, including work through the Institute of Citizens & Scholars(C&S)and campus-wideDiscourse and Dialogueprogramming.

These efforts are being advanced through ongoing work across campus, with a focus on supporting faculty, students, and staff in navigating complex and often challenging topics through respectful dialogue and engagement across differences. These initiatives aim to strengthen the University's capacity to foster inclusive, academically grounded conversations on issues that affect campus climate.

In addition, multifaith engagement is being developed through the Division of Student Affairs, in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Engagement and Wellbeing. That work will support programming and engagement opportunities for students and will also inform efforts for faculty and staff. The University believes this broader approach can help create opportunities for dialogue, understanding, and support across religious and cultural communities while also addressing concerns specific to Jewish campus life.

Consultation and Advisory Structure

The University agrees with the Working Group that there should be an ongoing vehicle for consultation with Jewish campus and community partners. The University appreciates the recommendation for an external advisory council and will work with stakeholders to determine the appropriate structure and what format would be most effective and appropriate for the University. The University's goal is to establish a meaningful, practical, and sustainable mechanism for consultation, engagement, and feedback.

Campus Climate Assessment

The University agrees that campus climate assessment is important but believes this work should be approached thoughtfully and in alignment with existing assessment efforts. The University currently administers the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) survey, a comprehensive, institution-wide survey used to assess student experience and inform institutional decision-making, including analysis across student populations and areas of campus life.

Rather than commit at this stage to a particular standalone survey instrument, the University will consider where and how concerns related to Jewish student, faculty, and staff experience can best be incorporated into existing survey efforts, including SERU and related campus climate tools. This includes evaluating whether additional targeted assessment is warranted.

The University's goal is to ensure that assessment efforts are meaningful, well-designed, and actionable, and that they contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen campus belonging and institutional response.

Incident Response and Closing the Loop

The University agrees with the report's emphasis on incident response and the importance of closing the loop with those who report concerns. The University has processes in place to receive, route, review, and respond to concerns and will continue to strengthen how those processes are communicated and understood across the campus community, including improved communication timelines and clearer points of contact. The University will also identify appropriate mechanisms for sharing periodic summaries of reported incidents and institutional response to strengthen transparency and campus understanding of these processes.

The University will continue to emphasize clear communication with affected individuals about what to expect, what office is handling a matter, and what forms of support may be available. The University agrees that transparency, consistency, and follow-through are important to fostering trust in institutional response.

Social Media and Online Harassment

The University agrees that social media and online harassment are important concerns and that they can significantly affect campus climate and individual well-being. The University will continue to assess how existing policies and reporting mechanisms apply when online conduct affects members of the campus community or implicates University processes. This includes continued review of reporting pathways and institutional protocols for addressing online conduct that materially affects the campus environment.

As with other areas, this work requires clarity regarding institutional authority, applicable policy, and coordination among relevant offices. The University's focus will be on ensuring that concerns can be reported, evaluated, and addressed through the appropriate channels when they affect the campus environment or involve prohibited conduct.

Safety and Security

The University agrees with the report's emphasis on safety and security for Jewish students, faculty, and staff, as well as for campus spaces and programs associated with Jewish life. The University remains committed to maintaining appropriate safety measures and coordination in support of Jewish students, organizations, and activities. The University understands that perceptions of safety are as important as safety measures themselves.

The University provides safety resources available to all of the Pitt community including campus police escorts and other support services, and will continue to ensure that the community is aware of and able to access these resources as needed.

The University will continue to work closely with University of Pittsburgh Police, campus partners, and external organizations, as appropriate, to assess security needs and support a safe campus environment. This includes ongoing coordination, communication, and review of safety practices for campus spaces and events, as well as responsiveness to emerging concerns.

The University recognizes that safety is foundational to student experience and engagement and will continue to prioritize efforts that support a secure and welcoming environment for all members of the campus community.

Definition

The University acknowledges the report's discussion of definitional questions related to antisemitism and recognizes the complexity of addressing these issues without relying on a single formal definition. The University did not charge the Working Group with creating a formal institutional definition, and the University is not adopting a single definition in this response or elsewhere.

This position reflects the University's recognition that Jewish experience, identity, and scholarship are diverse and that no single definition fully captures and relates to the range of lived experiences, concerns, and perspectives within and regarding the Jewish community. For that reason, the University believes it is important to approach these issues with nuance rather than relying exclusively on any one framework. Accordingly, rather than rely on a single formal definition, the University's focus will remain on addressing bias, conduct, conditions, and experiences that create harm, exclusion, intimidation, or discrimination, consistent with University policy and legal obligations. In doing so, the University will continue to draw on widely recognized scholarly and policy frameworks to inform its understanding of antisemitism in practice.

Moving Forward

As we move forward, the University is committed to ensuring that this work is transparent, coordinated, and reflective of the recommendations outlined in the report. The University will continue to engage members of the Jewish campus community as this work advances. We will continue to approach this work with compassion and resolve, recognizing our responsibility to stand against hate and bigotry and to foster a community in which all members can take pride. We remain committed to upholding the dignity, safety, and sense of belonging of our Jewish students, faculty, and staff, and to responding with accountability when those values are challenged. We also express our sincere appreciation for the time, effort, and care contributed by the Working Group, and for the meaningful contributions of those whose lived experiences informed this work. These recommendations are thoughtful and actionable, advancing support for the Jewish community while reinforcing the University's commitment to the well-being of all members of our campus community.