The U.S. Department of Education has opened civil rights investigations into antisemitism at San Jose State and San Francisco State, alleging that the universities have perpetuated harassment and fostered hostile environments for Jewish students on campus. The DOE’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating whether the schools, both part of the California State University system, violated Title ...

San Jose State University's Science building on Aug. 14, 2025.

Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group/TNS

The U.S. Department of Education has opened civil rights investigations into antisemitism at San Jose State and San Francisco State, alleging that the universities have perpetuated harassment and fostered hostile environments for Jewish students on campus.

The DOE’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating whether the schools, both part of the California State University system, violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits institutions receiving federal funding from discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin, according to a news release from the department.

The investigation is predicated on reports made by students at the institutions, with students at SF State describing the atmosphere on campus as one of “intimidation, exclusion, and fear,” officials said. Alleged incidents range from antisemitic graffiti on campus to physical attacks on Jewish students.

“Discrimination has no place on college campuses. The same California leaders who wax eloquent about their commitment to ‘equity’ and ‘social justice’ appear to turn their backs on violent, harmful acts of antisemitic intimidation and harassment,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a news release. “We will investigate these allegations, ensure the safety of Jewish students, and protect the right of every student in America to an education free from discrimination.”

The schools have “reportedly failed to acknowledge or meaningfully respond” and have appeared “even to condone such abhorrent acts,” the department added.

Officials at San Jose State did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

Dave Knutson, a spokesperson for SF State, confirmed that the school and the California State University system had received notice of the investigation, noting that such a probe does not constitute a finding that the university is in violation of federal law. The university is reviewing the allegations and will respond through the investigation process, he added.

“Antisemitism and discrimination have no place at SFSU. We take the concerns raised by members of our Jewish community seriously and remain committed to ensuring that every member of our community can study, teach, work, and participate in University life free from discrimination and harassment prohibited by law and University policy,” Knutson said. “For many years, SFSU has formed partnerships to assess and improve the campus climate for SFSU’s Jewish community. We will continue listening to Jewish students, faculty, staff, and campus partners and working to strengthen our prevention, reporting, and response efforts.”

The investigation comes amid a push by the Trump administration to root out alleged instances of antisemitism at universities nationwide, including a similar investigation launched against UC Berkeley, launched just weeks into Trump’s second term as president. The Department of Justice also launched an investigation into the University of California system for allegedly creating an antisemitic work environment.

The Department of Education ruled following another investigation earlier this year that San Jose State violated Title IX by allowing a transgender athlete to play on the women’s volleyball team, prompting the university to file a lawsuit against the department alleging that the agency’s threats to cut off the school’s funding were unlawful.

The department alleges that Jewish students on San Jose State’s campus have faced threats and shunning, and have been made to “feel unwelcome in classrooms because of their Jewish ancestry.” The campus has allegedly seen an increase in physical attacks on Jewish students and instances of anti-Israel protests interrupting class since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

Investigators also cite an email sent by the university’s vice president for student affairs and former interim chief diversity officer in which they allegedly “made the distinction between ‘good Jews’ and ‘bad Jews’ based on their support of the Israeli government.”

The investigation further alleges that faculty at SF State have created a “hostile environment” for Jewish students, officials said. Alleged incidents on campus have included antisemitic graffiti and attempted break-ins that have targeted Jewish students.

The department said that SF State’s Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas program allegedly held events featuring “extremists with terrorist group ties.” The campus presence of the last U.S.-based chapter of the General Union of Palestine Students, a student organization, reinforces the hostile campus environment, officials added.

Tali Klima, spokesperson for the Bay Area Jewish Coalition, an organization focused on combating local antisemitism, including in schools and universities, applauded the investigation into an “entrenched pattern” of antisemitism, which they have “heard so much about from both students and faculty at these universities.”

“The involvement of the federal government to quell the epidemic of antisemitism on these campuses has, unfortunately, been necessary because school administrators have abdicated their responsibility to entire swaths of their respective communities,” Klima said. “Moreover, allowing such hate to permeate the universities has had wide-reaching effects, including the sense of safety of the larger Jewish community, lessons taught in neighboring K-12 schools, and curriculum within teacher credentialing programs at these universities.”

Both universities and K-12 school districts have been the subjects of investigations and lawsuits alleging antisemitism on campus. UC Berkeley rescinded rules barring speakers who support Zionism from student-hosted events as part of a $1 million settlement earlier this year. In February, two Jewish advocacy organizations sued the State of California for allegedly failing to prevent antisemitic harassment against Jewish students in K-12 schools across the state.

In March, a professor who was fired by San Jose State for her pro-Palestinian advocacy last year filed a civil rights lawsuit against the university alleging First Amendment violations, discrimination and retaliation after an arbitrator reinstated her to her position.

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