Harvard University announced Tuesday that it has partially resolved lawsuits alleging the school inadequately addressed harassment of Jewish students amid campus protests related to the war in Gaza.
Under the settlement, Harvard has agreed to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and strengthen training for staff and students. The university will also update its antidiscrimination policies to recognize Zionism, the belief in a Jewish homeland, as an integral part of Jewish identity for many, and to classify harassment or exclusion based on that belief as a policy violation.
Although the settlement includes undisclosed monetary terms, Harvard did not admit liability or wrongdoing.
Settlement Details and Reactions
The agreement was announced in a joint statement by Harvard and the plaintiffs: Students Against Antisemitism, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education.
Harvard committed to releasing annual reports on its responses to incidents of discrimination and harassment, starting with cases dating back to October 2023. The university will also host an annual symposium on antisemitism to further educational efforts.
