The CCI model strengthens the relationships between Jewish student leaders, campus leaders and Hillel professionals through education about the Jewish community and antisemitism. CCI works within institutions’ existing commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“The selection of SDSU together with Hillel of San Diego for this initiative speaks to our long-standing partnership and SDSU’s proactive commitment to combating antisemitism on campus,” said Hillel of San Diego Executive Director Karen Parry. “CCI is an opportunity to build on the vital work already underway on campus and within the surrounding campus community.”

The involvement in CCI also follows the recent launching at SDSU of the Presidential Task Force on Addressing Antisemitism. The task force was created in spring 2021 in response to regional and national attacks on members of the Jewish community, including those in Pittsburgh, Jersey City and Chabad of Poway in San Diego County, as well as bias-motivated incidents on and around the SDSU campus.

“Our inclusion in this program represents an important step in our commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for our Jewish students, faculty, and staff,” said J. Luke Wood, SDSU’s vice president for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity.

The year-long cohort experience facilitates learning and sharing among university administrators mutually committed to addressing campus antisemitism, creating relationships that will improve communications and coordination when antisemitic incidents and other hate targeting Jewish students occur.

“We are so pleased to continue our partnership with Hillel, and now have the added opportunity to work with leaders from across the country, to address antisemitism in institutions of higher learning,” said Jessica Nare, assistant vice president for community and belonging at SDSU. “Our campus continues to make important policy, process, and climate changes to ensure that Jewish students, faculty, and staff thrive at SDSU.”

SDSU joins a wide variety of campuses across the United States, from large research universities to smaller liberal arts colleges, and both private and public institutions.

The cohort for the 2021-22 academic year includes:

• Binghamton University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Elon University
• Florida Atlantic University
• Goucher College
• Ithaca College
• Kennesaw State University
• New York University
• Northwestern University
• Rutgers University
• San Jose State University
• Stony Brook University
• Temple University
• Tufts University
• University of Connecticut
• University of Wisconsin–Madison
• University of Wisconsin System
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)