Academic Association Integrity Index

Introduction

Professional academic associations are an often unrecognized part of the higher education landscape, yet they are deeply influential in shaping the culture and intellectual contributions of academic fields and disciplines. As publishers and conveners, they play a vital role in the production and dissemination of knowledge. They also serve as a primary source of professional socialization for academics across campuses, and often set the standards for professional ethics.

Yet many of these organizations have fundamentally failed their membership by allowing, or even encouraging, antisemitism to thrive. In recent months, we’ve heard alarming stories from Jewish association members. Many report feeling physically unsafe at conferences, hiding their identities or self-censoring their speech for fear of losing professional opportunities, and being subjected to hostile content through association channels such as interest group listservs.

Antisemitism is showing up across associations and across the activities in which those associations engage, and few organizational leaders are responding forcefully. These reports are consistent with findings from an Anti-Defamation League/Academic Engagement Network survey of Jewish-identifying U.S.-based faculty members who were recruited through snowball sampling across ADL and AEN networks. Of the 190 surveyed faculty members who are members of professional academic associations, 42% reported feeling unwelcome in their association because they are Jewish or perceived as Zionists.

The Ratings and Assessments Institute (RAI) 2025 Assessment: The State of Antisemitism in Professional Academic Associations offers the first data-driven assessment of how 20 major U.S.- based associations serving humanities and social and behavioral science fields and disciplines are experiencing and addressing antisemitism. Each association is assessed on the prevalence and severity of antisemitic activity and leadership response to antisemitism, including the provision and enforcement of strong institutional safeguards. Using public sources, association leader and member feedback, and vetted incidents reported to ADL, we provide a clear narrative description of the state of antisemitism in each association to inform association leaders, members and potential members, university administrators, funders, and policymakers and to drive urgent reform.

The goal of this report is to support professional academic associations in preventing, recognizing, and responding to antisemitism. Documenting antisemitism is a first step toward organizational accountability. To promote change, we conclude with some comments about the path forward. We have also included some actionable strategies for those seeking to raise concerns or advocate for change within their associations, as well as a checklist of concrete steps professional academic association leaders can take to prevent and appropriately respond to antisemitism.

We hope this report prompts institutional reflection and action. We encourage members, staff, and elected leaders of professional academic associations to use this as a springboard for meaningful dialogue and reform.

Association Assessment Ratings

Each association was assessed on the prevalence and severity of antisemitic activity and leadership response to antisemitism, including the provision and enforcement of strong institutional safeguards. The 20 associations assessed fall into four categories:

Major Concerns: Substantial Action Required

• American Anthropological Association
• American Psychological Association
• American Studies Association
• Association for Asian American Studies
• Middle East Studies Association
• National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies
• National Women's Studies Association
• Native American and Indigenous Studies Association

Issues Identified: Meaningful Action Required

• American Association of Geographers
• American Educational Research Association
• American Historical Association
• American Sociological Association
• International Studies Association
• Modern Language Association

Issues Identified: Meaningful Action Required and Is Underway

• American Public Health Association

No Significant Issues Identified

• American Economic Association
• American Philosophical Association
• American Political Science Association
• German Studies Association
• Linguistic Society of America

For detailed narrative profiles of all 20 associations, including documented incidents, member accounts and full assessment criteria, download the complete report.

How We Assessed: Methodology

Sample Selection

This assessment began with a broad review of hundreds of U.S.-based professional academic associations, ultimately focusing on those advancing humanities and social and behavioral science disciplines, where many of the most acute issues around antisemitism have been concentrated. The final group of 20 national 501(c)(3) organizations includes associations for which there is documented antisemitism as well as associations that appear to have successfully prevented or responded to it.

Assessment Criteria

Each association was evaluated on two dimensions:

1. The degree of severe and pervasive antisemitism within the association, using nine specific criteria ranging from reports of antisemitic harassment at conferences to whether an association has formally endorsed an academic boycott of Israel.
2. Leadership response to antisemitism, including whether leaders responded swiftly, forcefully and appropriately when antisemitism arose, and whether strong institutional safeguards are in place and enforced.

The assessment is portrayed qualitatively, offering a holistic narrative picture of the state of antisemitism in each association.

Data Collection

A multi-source approach was used, including:

• Extensive secondary research reviewing association websites, newsletters, public statements, conference materials, social media posts and media coverage
• A survey sent to the executive directors of all 20 associations (none responded, though two engaged in direct conversation with the research team)
• Interviews with more than 40 association members across the organizations under review
• Review of ADL incident reports involving antisemitism in professional academic association contexts
• Feedback from a small expert advisory panel with specialized expertise in professional academic associations, higher education and nonprofit governance

Definition of Antisemitism

This report uses the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, including its contemporary examples. This definition is the preeminent and most widely accepted definitional and learning tool used around the world when it comes to understanding manifestations of antisemitism today. It has been adopted or endorsed by more than half of U.S. states, the District of Columbia, the European Parliament and more than 40 countries.

For the full list of assessment criteria and a complete description of data collection procedures, see the full report.

Common Themes Across Associations

Across all 20 associations examined, this research illuminated a set of recurring patterns. These systemic challenges reflect the normalization of antisemitic activity and rhetoric in professional settings, failures of institutional accountability and the alienation of Jewish members from their own academic homes.

1. A Climate of Marginalization and Risk

Many Jewish members feel unwelcome in association contexts. They feel alienated and even unsafe when anti-Israel protests erupt at conferences. They feel marginalized when Jewish perspectives are demeaned at professional development sessions and when antisemitic posts are shared on formal association interest group listservs. Some report self-censorship, fearing professional costs if they speak openly about their Jewish identity, antisemitism or Israel.

2. Departures from Core Mission

A recurring theme is that many associations are focusing energy on political activity that falls outside the scope of their organizational missions. In doing so, their core work is overshadowed, leaving members without the professional support they need. Common professional interests no longer drive decisions in these associations. For many Jewish members, this translates to exclusion, hostility and even the sidelining of their scholarship.

3. Leadership Failures

Few association leaders have demonstrated strength in actively and explicitly combating antisemitism. In some cases, leaders wilted in the face of criticism after they encouraged fidelity to mission. In many others, leaders aligned with and enabled antisemitic activity and rhetoric. And leaders of several associations failed to meaningfully address reported incidents of antisemitism.

4. Antisemitism Not Treated as a Legitimate Form of Discrimination

Associations that have historically spoken out strongly against other forms of discrimination have often failed to respond with equal seriousness to antisemitism. Jewish identity is not consistently recognized as a minority identity requiring protection, and policies and programming that might signal inclusion are rare. In fact, many Jewish members report being gaslit when they raise concerns. A recent ADL/Academic Engagement Network survey found that 45% of respondents who are members of professional academic associations reported being told by others in their associations what is and is not antisemitism.

5. Intellectual Exchange Stifled

One member described what has been expressed across many associations: facing "a draconian standard of intellectual orthodoxy." A prevailing false narrative about oppressors and oppressed creates an environment in which Jewish people are villainized. Many Jewish members report that colleagues are unwilling to engage in open conversation about Israel because they see no room for discussion. These illiberal impulses are counter to fundamental academic values. Ironically, these same members often invoke academic freedom to defend antisemitic rhetoric and activity.

6. Outsized Role of Organized Interest Groups

Formal subgroups of associations, such as divisions and sections, have in many cases taken the lead in driving anti-Israel agendas. Some of the most extreme proposals for BDS have come through these subgroups, and subgroup listservs have been a locus of frequent and virulent antisemitic rhetoric. These relatively small, activist groups have been allowed to shape policy debates and election outcomes, creating the impression that their positions represent the will of the membership.

7. New Advocacy Efforts to Combat Antisemitism

In response to the rise of anti-Zionist subgroups, Jewish members have organized their own advocacy groups to push back against antisemitism and campaign for greater association accountability. Members share that these groups also provide a space to be with colleagues with whom they can feel comfortable expressing their identity.

8. An Exodus of Jewish Members

Many associations are experiencing the quiet departure of Jewish members who no longer feel that their professional societies represent them. This loss can be profound for Jewish scholars who are deprived of the professional resources and networks that an academic association offers. Fewer members remain to voice concerns about antisemitism and hold leadership accountable, deepening the cycle of silence and exclusion.

Read detailed examples of how these themes play out across all 20 individual association profiles in the full report.

For additional context on these questions and others, including on the accusations of genocide, apartheid and settler colonialism, see full report.

Take Action

For Association Leaders

Are you an association leader seeking a better understanding of how to prevent and appropriately respond to antisemitism? The following checklist offers a starting point of clear, tangible and realistic steps you can take. The full checklist is available in the complete report.

Ensure board members understand and respect their fiduciary responsibilities.

• Offer board training that includes discussion of fiduciary responsibility.
• Require board members to engage in professional development to become better informed about antisemitism and the needs and concerns of Jewish, Zionist and Israeli members.

Create and enforce policies that keep public statements and advocacy aligned with your mission.

• Establish a policy specifying that all public statements made on behalf of the association must directly align with the organizational mission.
• Ensure official subgroups (such as divisions and sections) are not permitted to independently issue public statements or engage in public policy advocacy.

Establish and uphold codes of ethics, conduct and non-discrimination.

• Ensure your diversity statement encompasses Jewish people, including those for whom Zionism is a central component of their faith.
• Explicitly include antisemitism and anti-Zionism in non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.
• Adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism and provide educational materials explaining its relevance and context.
• Require members to agree to abide by non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies when they join and renew.

Develop clear processes for reporting antisemitism.

• Make your reporting process clear and easy to find on the association's website.
• Clearly specify investigative steps that are taken in a timely manner when a report is submitted.

Protect open inquiry and intellectual exchange.

• Establish rules regarding appropriate participation for listservs and community forums, with active moderation.
• Ensure conference presentations relate to the association's mission.
• Consider the Jewish holiday calendar when planning major events and deadlines.

Download the complete Best Practices Checklist in the full report.

For Members Who Have Experienced Antisemitism

If you have experienced or witnessed antisemitism in your professional association, you are not alone and you have options.

Report to ADL. If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of antisemitism, contact ADL at adl.org/report-incident. All reports submitted to ADL are confidential unless you grant express permission to share information. Reporting helps support you and helps ADL track antisemitic incident trends.

Consider reporting to your association. The decision to report is a personal one. If you decide to do so, a strong report will include: detailed documentation of the incident, a reference to any specific association policy or code of conduct that was violated, the impact the incident had on you professionally and personally, clearly articulated outcomes you hope to see and a specified date by which you are requesting a response.

Consider collective action. Try to generate collective action with other concerned members. This can take the form of action against a specific activity, such as a boycott proposal, or the formation of a group to address antisemitism in the association more holistically.

Consider obtaining a legal evaluation. Depending on the nature of the situation, you may want to consult an attorney. ADL's Legal Action Network, powered by Gibson Dunn and supported by law firms nationwide, is designed to provide victims of antisemitism and extremism with access to legal services.

ADL Legal Action Network

ADL fights for justice on behalf of victims of antisemitism, extremism and hate. With ADL Legal Action Network, ADL is equipped to provide victims with access to a national response system and a nationwide network of law firms. Jews and Jewish institutions across the country are experiencing a troubling rise in antisemitism. ADL provides legal expertise and support. We are a community: don't face hate alone.

Submit a report: adl.org/adl-legal-action

The Path Forward

We commend those professional academic associations, such as the American Economic Association and the American Political Science Association, that focus exclusively on their core mission of advancing a specific field or discipline. We encourage them to continue leading the way in supporting the professional needs of all of their members and protecting their Jewish members from antisemitism.

Many other associations, such as the American Anthropological Association and the American Psychological Association, claim to embody values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and yet they engage in actions that alienate many Jewish members, as well as many others who desire a professional organization focused on its core academic mission. We implore these associations to read this report with purpose and take proactive steps to make change. ADL remains ready to partner with association leaders in supporting these efforts.

Without change, these associations will continue to violate core values of academic culture, such as respect for free inquiry and intellectual exchange. Antisemitism in the academy and in adjacent academic institutions destroys our educational system, ultimately rendering our next generation unable to examine evidence, think analytically and be open to diverse ideas.