Task Force Recommends Steps To Enhance Climate for Religious Minorities

A group of University of Virginia faculty, staff and students tasked with examining the climate for Jewish, Muslim and other religious communities on Grounds has delivered a report to University leaders detailing several findings and recommendations.

President Jim Ryan and Provost Ian Baucom formed the Task Force on Religious Diversity and Belonging in December in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.

Led by College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Dean Christa Acampora, the group spent several months assessing the on-Grounds climate for students of different faiths. The work included an analysis of reports of antisemitism, Islamophobia and other religious biases, as well as available data on how welcome different groups feel on Grounds. The task force also conducted focus groups and examined resources and practices at peer institutions.

“We initiated the work of this task force to better understand the experiences of students from different faith traditions on Grounds and to receive guidance on steps we can take to enhance the sense of safety, belonging and respect within our Jewish, Muslim and other religious communities,” Ryan said. “As we continue to review the report, we are grateful to the members of the task force for offering their perspective on these important and complex questions, particularly in such a challenging moment.”

The report, finalized July 31, paints a mixed picture of the experiences of Jewish and Muslim students.

According to the report, available survey data on religious belonging indicate Jewish undergraduate students reported the highest sense of belonging of all religions on Grounds, while Muslim students reported the lowest. 

When asked whether their religious views are “respected” on Grounds, 78% of Jewish undergraduates and 77% of Muslim undergraduates responded affirmatively, which are lower percentages than students in any other category surveyed. 

The task force also evaluated the University’s outreach and support for different religious communities, the institution’s academic offerings, and other programming intended to foster greater connection and understanding within and between different religious groups. 

As University leaders continue to evaluate the report and its recommendations, the institution has already begun to implement key recommendations and is preparing to implement others. 

These include: 

• Enhancing communications with students and faculty about requesting and granting religious accommodations, including new guidance to ease and clarify this process. 
• Increasing opportunities for students, faculty and staff to build skills in interacting across differences, including a pilot program with the Constructive Dialogue Institute and a new series of “Dialogue Dinners” for students to build and practice these skills. 
• Expanding the existing group of local faith leaders that meet with Ryan and other members of the University leadership team and making those meetings more frequent.
• Conducting an assessment of the availability of spaces on Grounds for prayer or quiet meditation to determine whether and where additional spaces are needed.
• Improving communications about the availability of kosher and halal food options in University dining facilities, and assessing whether these options are sufficiently accessible or could be enhanced.
• Reviewing the University’s Inclusive Excellence efforts to ensure that they fully recognize the spectrum of religious identities as an aspect of Inclusive Excellence.
• Providing provost office funding for conferences, symposia and other academic programming related to religious histories and cultures, relations between religious groups in the U.S. and globally, and related topics.
• A thorough, institution-wide assessment of UVA’s academic resources on topics such as religious traditions and cultures, the history and geopolitics of the Middle East and conflict resolution to help recruit faculty in areas where there are key gaps or opportunities.

In addition to the actions the University is taking in response to the recommendations of the task force, UVA has also taken the steps below to increase awareness about antisemitism, Islamophobia and religious intolerance and to provide greater support to members of those communities: 

• Finalize and begin offering student orientation training regarding the University’s Preventing and Addressing Discrimination and Harassment Policy that includes education and awareness regarding antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination and harassment.
• Designate a victim’s advocate and coordinator within the University Police Division who is experienced in handling antisemitism and Islamophobia and all types of religious intolerance.
• Designate a lead coordinator to work within the Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights in partnership with Human Resources, Student Affairs, the provost’s office and the health system in responding to all reports related to antisemitism, Islamophobia, and any type of religious intolerance connected to national origin and ethnic ancestry.

“The University is adding and enhancing resources and supports across our community to better ensure that all people feel welcome here, regardless of their faith tradition, nationality or other identities,” Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer Kenyon Bonner said. “In the wake of the terrible violence in the Middle East, our community came together in a very challenging moment for our institution and the entire world. We will continue to look for ways to do more to welcome and embrace all people, and to learn from the different beliefs, perspectives and experiences we bring to Grounds with us.” 

Beginning in October, the University quickly implemented a series of changes to support community members affected by the Hamas attacks and the conflict in Gaza; to investigate claims of antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of religious bias; and to expand academic programming to offer more information about the conflict and its history. Those efforts continued throughout the academic year and will extend into the coming year.

“The horrific events of Oct. 7 and the terrible suffering in Gaza have brought important questions about the experiences of Jewish and Muslim people on Grounds to the fore, but those questions are certainly not new,” Baucom said. “With this report in hand, we are already in the process of acting upon the important findings and recommendations of this working group as we continue to strive to make our University the best possible place for people of every faith and walk of life to live, learn and work together.”

On Thursday, the University Board of Visitors received a briefing about the task force report and passed a resolution in support of “University Leadership’s efforts to continue work already underway and direct(ing) the Academic and Student Life Committee to consider additional actions to ensure that there is zero tolerance for harassment, bias, and discrimination based on religious differences on University Grounds.”