Update on the Joint Task Force on Antisemitism and Islamophobia

University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines and University Senate Chair Wendy Stickle sent the following email to the campus community this afternoon: 

In late 2023, the university established a Joint Presidential and University Senate Task Force on Antisemitism and Islamophobia, chaired by Drs. Maxine Grossman and Shibley Telhami, to examine our policies and practices, understand the experiences and concerns of our campus community and identify opportunities to strengthen our strategies for preventing and responding to reports and perceptions of antisemitism and Islamophobia on our campus. The task force brought together students, faculty and staff representing different perspectives and experiences.

Months later, we shared the task force's final report and recommendations with the campus community. The recommendations called for action across a range of areas, including education and training, curricular and cultural programming, educating and supporting free expression, campus safety and security, community engagement and mental health resources. 

Today we write to provide an update on the progress we have made toward the task force’s 10 recommendations: 

1. Pursue and implement an institutional structure for training the campus community about antisemitism and Islamophobia: Through enhanced TerrapinSTRONG orientation modules, Belonging and Community has expanded education to directly address antisemitism and Islamophobia. A newly added video addresses community, belonging and inclusion. Additional resources focusing on Jewish and Muslim identities are included in our onboarding course action plan, offered to faculty and staff through Workday Learning and to students through ELMS-Canvas. This work advances our broader institutional commitment to creating a campus where every member feels safe and supported.
2. Pursue and implement an institutional structure for specific education and training programs around Islamophobia and antisemitism that addresses the nuances of issues appropriate to particular unit responsibilities: Belonging and Community has also worked with UMD faculty to develop more specialized educational opportunities focused on antisemitism and Islamophobia. Two online courses are scheduled to launch in early Spring 2027 as microcredentials and digital badges. Additional information will be posted on the Belonging website’s resources page as these courses become available. 
3. Consider a curricular requirement related to dialogue and understanding in environments of tension, difference and conflict: Academic Affairs has dedicated resources to expand course offerings that build students' dialogical skills and equip them to manage difficult conversations and collaborations. Through the College of Education's Intergroup Dialogue Training Hub and the inaugural Courageous Leadership Lab, the university has scaled up training for students, faculty and staff to facilitate dialogues across religious, worldview and cultural differences. Moving forward, UMD is exploring a range of approaches to promote dialogue-based instruction in courses.
4. Commit to increased engagement with the topics of prejudice against Muslims and Jews in educational and dialogic programming specifically related to campus diversity: In June 2025, Belonging and Community produced and published four webinars, expanding educational and dialogic programming addressing prejudice against Muslims and Jews. These webinars brought together subject-matter experts from UMD and beyond to explore Islamophobia, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab sentiment, the experiences of Palestinians in the United States, antisemitism, anti-Zionism and Jewish identity. 
5. Encourage creation of cultural programming that explores a rich understanding of diversities of religion, race and ethnicity: Student Affairs and Belonging and Community have continued to assess and expand cultural programming across campus, with a focus on creating opportunities for students to engage with different religious, racial and ethnic identities and perspectives. Building on the Unity Center momentum, this work has included supporting existing cultural and heritage month programming, strengthening resources for student organizations and exploring new opportunities for reflection, dialogue and understanding. In Summer 2026, UMD was awarded an Interfaith America grant focused on advancing pluralism and addressing rising levels of antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry. 
6. Develop and announce a policy that resists asserting university positions on divisive public issues, especially in times of crisis: A workgroup has been charged with considering the recommendation, reviewing other institutional approaches and making a recommendation to the president as to an approach for UMD. Any proposed guidelines will reflect the university's core values and our commitments to freedom of thought and expression. The Office of Marketing and Communications has researched what types of statements, policies or other steps that peer universities have taken regarding institutional neutrality or restraint. As this work continues, the university has been guided by this recommendation when making strategic communications decisions.  
7. Assess, engage with and focus attention on the needs of the on-campus community: The university continues to prioritize the safety, well-being and needs of our students, faculty, staff and broader campus community during times of crisis. Proactive engagement remains central to how the university protects our community's well-being. Senior administrators and the University of Maryland Police Department maintain open lines of communication with key stakeholders to understand emerging issues before, during and after significant events or periods of heightened concern. This includes Jewish and Muslim student groups, as well as ideological clubs that have expressed concern about their ability to freely express their views on campuses across the country.  
8. Provide ready access to policies that affect our community in times of tension: Student Affairs has expanded efforts to help provide students and student organizations with ready access to the university's free expression policy and related expectations, including a campuswide email at the start of each academic year. Clear guidance regarding our free expression policy is now embedded directly into student organization training and campus resources. Student Affairs has also updated leadership orientations, published quick-reference guides to campus policies and placed prominent policy links across key digital platforms like TerpLink.
9. Build support structures to maintain relationships and prevent escalations in difficult times: Senior leadership officials maintain frequent, direct dialogue with student leaders of religious and cultural organizations and community members. In tandem, UMPD, Resident Life, chaplaincies and support centers coordinate safety planning, bias response and community care tailored to impacted groups.
10. Ensure that all campus community members know about the mental health resources and support available to them: The university has continued to expand outreach, prevention and support related to mental health and well-being. Expanded clinical services and dedicated processing spaces are available through the Counseling Center and Bias Incident Support Services for communities affected by bias incidents. In addition to scaling up wellness outreach, the university has implemented Mental Health Task Force recommendations and built a single, centralized mental health and well-being hub for all students, faculty and staff.

This work reflects an ongoing commitment to the principles that guided the task force's recommendations: fostering a campus where all members of our community can learn, work and live with safety, dignity and a sense of belonging. We will continue to assess our progress, strengthen our efforts and work across the university to address antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of hate and bias. To be clear, our work is not done. We recognize that across the nation and the globe, we continue to face challenges that keep antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate a continued source of fear for many of us. And so, our efforts at the University of Maryland must and will continue. 

Thank you to the students, faculty and staff who have contributed to this work and to those who continue to engage in the difficult but necessary conversations that strengthen our community. To view the full task force report and for more details about each recommendation, please visit our task force webpage.

Sincerely,

Darryll J. Pines
President, University of Maryland

Wendy Stickle
Chair, University of Maryland Senate