Frequently Asked Questions

How does USC support Jewish Life and Jewish Studies?

  • USC has an extremely active Jewish community with one of the largest Jewish student bodies in the country.
  • Jewish students, faculty and staff are engaged in Jewish life and education through a number of organizations, institutes and centers:
    • USC Hillel engages over 1,500 unique USC students each year, fostering holistic Jewish identity formation across a range of informal programs.
    • The Chabad Jewish Center at USC offers students and families the opportunity to stay connected to Jewish life throughout the year, and provides Jewish students a supportive and nurturing “home away from home.”
  • The USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education aims to develop empathy, understanding and respect through testimony collection, strategic partnerships, global outreach, and research on the history and prevention of genocide.Holds the world’s largest visual archive of Holocaust testimonies, and has collected testimonies from survivors of the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel The Stronger Than Hate initiative launched in 2020 empowers teens and young adults to recognize and counter hate in their own communities. President Folt brought the Shoah Foundation under the direct purview of the Office of the Provost to ensure higher visibility and institutional support. President Folt recruited and appointed noted Holocaust expert Robert J. Williams as the new Executive Director in October 2022. 
    • The USC Casden Institute supports research that aims to spur dialogue and achieve greater understanding about what it means to be Jewish in America and American in a pluralistic society.
  • USC also offers degree and curricular programs in Jewish studies, including:
    • Bachelor of Arts degree and major in Jewish Studies, offered as a partnership between Hebrew Union College and the USC Dornsife College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
      • Hebrew Union College is adjacent to our main campus and offers multiple programs in Jewish studies and religion to both HUC and USC students, including general education classes, Hebrew language classes, and numerous courses focusing on Jewish themes.
      • USC and HUC celebrated 50 years of partnership in September 2022, and renewed their partnership for another 25 years. 
    • Jewish Studies Graduate Certificate
    • Minor in Jewish American Studies
    • Minor in Jewish Studies
    • Minor in Judaic StudiesMBA/MA in Jewish Non-Profit ManagementMSW/MA in Jewish Non-Profit Management
    • Adjacent coursework across humanities, social sciences, education, arts, and social policy, among others.  

What else is USC and campus leadership doing to support USC’s Jewish Community?

  • President Folt, senior leaders and members of the Board of Trustees regularly attend Jewish events on campus, including Shabbat dinners and holiday celebrations.
  • In January 2022, President Folt convened an Advisory Committee on Jewish Life at USC. This committee met regularly throughout the Spring 2022 semester to make recommendations to tangibly support Jewish students, faculty, and staff.
    • In August 2022, President Folt accepted the committee’s final recommendations report. The committee will work throughout the Fall 2022 semester to develop a plan to implement the recommendations, many of which have already been implemented.
      • More information about this committee, its members, and its final report is available here.
  • In November 2023, USC hosted the Western Region Summit on Anti-Semitism in Higher Education conference in partnership with Hillel International and the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. 
    • This two-day event, which President Folt enthusiastically agreed to host on USC’s campus, was planned before the October 7 terrorist attacks, and promoted a deeper understanding of contemporary antisemitism among campus professionals, along with best practices to effectively respond. 
    • President Folt also provided keynote remarks that can be read here.
  • Two of the first things that President Folt did after assuming office was to rename two key campus buildings: 
    • She renamed our flagship Track & Field stadium in honor of Allyson Felix, the most decorated woman in Olympic track & field history. The field was previously named after former USC coach assistant Olympic track coach (Dean Cromwell), whose legacy included preventing Jewish runners from qualifying for the Olympics. 
    • She renamed the Center for Public Affairs for Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow. Dr. Crow is a World War 2 hero and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The building was previously named for Rufus von Kleinsmid, a former president of USC from 1921-1947 who espoused anti-Semitic and eugenics viewpoints. 
  • The university also works closely with outside organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Jewish Federation, and the American Jewish Committee on a number of initiatives through the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life.
  • In December 2023, President Folt was recognized by Hillel International as one of the university presidents “doing it right” to protect Jewish students in the midst of the conflict between Israel and Gaza. 

How is USC combating antisemitism?

  • USC President Carol Folt and the USC Board of Trustees have clearly and publicly denounced antisemitism in multiple messages and statements
  • In November 2023, USC hosted the Western Region Summit on Anti-Semitism in Higher Education conference in partnership with Hillel International and the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. 
    • This two-day event, which President Folt enthusiastically agreed to host on USC’s campus, was planned before the October 7 terrorist attacks, and promoted a deeper understanding of contemporary antisemitism among campus professionals, along with best practices to effectively respond. 
    • President Folt also provided keynote remarks that can be read here.
  • President Folt and her team have – and continue to hold – conversations with numerous Jewish leaders both on and off campus to learn about the history of antisemitism and determine steps to move forward.
  • The Advisory Committee on Jewish Life at USC has made a number of proposed recommendations aimed at combating antisemitism, addressing anti-Zionism, and developing and improving processes to address harassment and discrimination online and offline.
    • This includes a new Student Commitment published in Fall 2022 which establishes a clearly articulated, student-focused campus pledge to act in accordance with our community principles and unifying values. This will help encourage civil discourse among our students on campus and on social media.
  • In December 2023, President Folt was recognized by Hillel International as one of the university presidents “doing it right” to protect Jewish students in the midst of the conflict between Israel and Gaza. 

How is USC working with other universities and national partners to combat antisemitism?

  • USC has hosted and participated in multiple conferences and meetings regarding combating campus antisemitism. 
    • In November 2023, USC hosted the Western Region Summit on Anti-Semitism in Higher Education conference in partnership with Hillel International and the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. 
    • In early 2022, former Provost Chip Zukoski and Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life, Varun Soni represented USC at a national presidents’ summit on antisemitism in higher education, hosted by Hillel International, the American Jewish Committee, and the American Council on Education. University leaders came together to collaborate on strategies to address this and other serious concerns about the safety and well-being of our Jewish students.
  • As Chair of the Association of American Universities (AAU), President Folt has – and continues to – discuss this issue more broadly with the Presidents of the nation’s leading universities.
  • In December 2023, President Folt was recognized by Hillel International as one of the university presidents “doing it right” to protect Jewish students in the midst of the conflict between Israel and Gaza. 
  • USC is participating in the Academic Engagement Network’s Signature Seminar Series, which brings together university and college administrators, including student affairs staff, diversity officials, and other campus professionals for online and in-person professional development to increase knowledge and awareness of Jewish identity, diversity, antisemitism, and inclusion on campus.
    • In January 2022, the AEN acknowledged USC for for its actions in supporting Jewish life and combating antisemitism.