Advisory Committee on MENA and Muslim Student Life and Advisory Committee on Jewish Student Life

In December 2023, President Peter Salovey wrote to the Yale community, speaking out against hatred and identifying action to support Jewish life and Arab, Muslim, and Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) life on campus.

In conjunction with Belonging at Yale, this action will help foster an environment in which community members with diverse beliefs, perspectives, and cultures have a voice and in which all students, faculty, and staff feel welcome and respected.

Two new advisory committees will help guide and continue the work already begun to support and enhance student life for our Jewish and MENA and Muslim students. The charge to each advisory committee is shared below.

Comments or questions can be directed to the Secretary’s Office.

Advisory Committee on MENA and Muslim Student Life

Purpose: The committee is established to identify and help address issues related to the campus climate for the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) and Muslim communities on campus.

General Scope of Work:

  • Collaborate with relevant university offices to evaluate the campus environment for the MENA and Muslim student communities on campus, including working with the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility and other offices to address incidents of Islamophobia.
  • Advise on the impact of university policies as they relate to the MENA and Muslim communities, including educational programs, safety measures and cultural accommodations (e.g., calendaring) and other aspects of university life that may impact these student communities differentially. Members must identify and understand best practices.
  • Create and maintain avenues for input and feedback from all members of these communities.
  • Explore and recommend ways for increased collaboration and dialogue among relevant communities about issues of Islamophobia.

Specific Additional Scope of Work for FY24 and FY25:

In addition to the ongoing work described above, the advisory committee will focus on the following project in close collaboration with the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA). This collaboration is essential for aligning the broader university policies and goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. OIEA will provide guidance, resources, and support as needed to ensure the task force’s efforts are integrated into the university’s overall strategy for promoting an inclusive and respectful campus environment.

  • Examine Current Training Programs: Assess existing training programs on Islamophobia for student life professionals to determine their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement and expansion by offices charged with this work.
  • Develop Recommendations on New Educational and Training Programs: Consult relevant experts and peer programs to recommend the expansion of educational programs, including orientation programs for the broader student community.
  • Implementation and Assessment: If appropriate, help implement new educational and training programs. Conduct an initial assessment of pilot programs in first year.
  • Expert Consultation: Identify and consult with appropriate internal and external experts in relevant fields, including the Council of Middle Eastern Studies, to inform the development of these programs.
  • Peer Review and Best Practices: Examine efforts by peer institutions and determine best practices in training and education that helps address Islamophobia.

Timeline for special project:

  • Initial Assessment and Recommendations: A midpoint check-in with Secretary and Vice President for University Life and the final report due by the end of the Spring 2024 semester.
  • Continued Consultations: Throughout the summer and fall of 2024.
  • Assessment of Initial Pilots: In the spring of 2025.

Reporting Structure: The committee will report directly to the Secretary and Vice President for University Life as the officer responsible for campus climate initiatives.

Membership: The committee will include members from relevant university constituencies and experts in the fields of Middle Eastern, North African, and Islamic studies, at least one Muslim chaplain as well as representatives from student affairs units pertinent to these communities.

Membership term: three years with the option of renewal

Meeting Frequency: The committee will meet at least twice per semester. The Chair will have a separate meeting with the Secretary at least once per semester to share insights and establish a focus for the year. Additionally, the full committee will meet with the Secretary at least once a year. Special projects will require additional meeting times.

This committee is entrusted with a vital role in ensuring a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for the Muslim and MENA communities on campus and is expected to work collaboratively across university communities and within the diverse Muslim and MENA communities and diligently towards achieving these objectives.

Advisory Committee on Jewish Student Life

Purpose: This committee is established to help implement and amplify the recommendations of the Yale Antisemitism Climate Group of 2022 incorporated into university priorities and planning and to continue to identify and help address issues related to the campus climate for the Jewish student community.

General Scope of Work:

  • Advise on the implementation of recommendations made by the Yale Antisemitism Climate Group that have been approved and incorporated into ongoing university planning and processes.
  • Collaborate with relevant university offices to evaluate the campus environment for the Jewish student community, including working with the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility and other relevant offices and departments to address incidents of antisemitism.
  • Advise on the impact of university policies as they relate to the Jewish community, including educational programs, safety measures and cultural accommodations (e.g., calendaring) and other aspects of university life that may impact the Jewish student community differentially. Members must identify and understand best practices.
  • Create and maintain avenues for input and feedback from all members of the community.
  • Explore and recommend ways for increased collaboration and dialogue among relevant communities about issues of antisemitism.

Specific Additional Scope of Work for FY24 and FY25:

In addition to the ongoing work described above, the advisory committee will focus on the following project in close collaboration with the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA). This collaboration is essential for aligning the broader university policies and goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. OIEA will provide guidance, resources, and support as needed to ensure the task force’s efforts are integrated into the university’s overall strategy for promoting an inclusive and respectful campus environment.

  • Examine Current Training Programs: Assess existing training programs to address antisemitism for student life professionals to determine their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement and expansion by offices charged with this work.
  • Develop Recommendations on New Educational and Training Programs: Consult relevant experts and peer programs to recommend the expansion of educational programs, including orientation programs for the broader student community.
  • Implementation and Assessment: If appropriate, help implement new educational and training programs. Conduct an initial assessment of pilot programs in first year.
  • Expert Consultation: Identify and consult with appropriate internal and external experts in relevant fields, including the Yale Program for the Study of Antisemitism, to inform the development of these programs.
  • Peer Review and Best Practices: Examine efforts by peer institutions and determine best practices in antisemitism training and education.

Timeline for special project:

  • Initial Assessment and Recommendations: A midpoint check-in with Secretary and Vice President for University Life and the final report due by the end of the Spring 2024 semester.
  • Continued Consultations: Throughout the summer and fall of 2024.
  • Assessment of Initial Pilots: In the spring of 2025.

Reporting Structure: The committee will report directly to the Secretary and Vice President for University Life as the officer responsible for campus climate initiatives.

Membership: The committee will include members from the original Yale Antisemitism Climate Group and will be expanded to include additional university members as appropriate to carry out the defined scope of work.

Membership term: three years with the option of renewal

Meeting Frequency: The committee will meet at least twice per semester. The Chair will have a separate meeting with the Secretary at least once per semester to share insights and establish a focus for the year. Additionally, the full committee will meet with the Secretary at least once a year. Special projects will require additional meeting times.

This committee is entrusted with a vital role in ensuring a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for the Jewish community on campus and is expected to work collaboratively across university communities and within the diverse Jewish community and diligently towards achieving these objectives.