As legally mandated by 2025 Regular Session Senate Joint Resolution 55 (SJR 55), the University of Louisville (University) establishes this policy to combat Antisemitism, protect the right of all individuals to access the institution’s programs and activities, and foster a safe and welcoming environment for our entire campus community that is free from bias, discrimination, and harassment. 

This policy supplements, and does not supersede, the University’s existing anti-discrimination policies and practices. All individuals will receive equal protection under federal and state laws and University policies.

The University is committed to maintaining a community that provides everyone with equal access to the learning and working environment. Therefore, the University prohibits all forms of bias, discrimination, and harassment, including Antisemitism. All such complaints will be investigated by the Office of Legal Compliance and Investigations in accordance with the existing University policy on Bias, Discrimination, and Harassment. 

Nothing in this policy shall be construed to apply to or affect any rights secured by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution or Section 1 of the Constitution of Kentucky; the religious freedom of faculty, students, and student organizations; publications and the freedom of expression of student newspapers and University press; the activities, funding (except for organizations found to have materially supported designated terrorist organizations), conduct, speech, and freedom of association of student-led organizations; or the conduct or speech of students acting in their individual capacities.

Reports of Bias, Discrimination, and Harassment Policy https://louisville.edu/policies/policies-and-procedures/pageholder/pol-reports-of-bias-discrimination-and-harassment

Viewpoint Neutrality Policy https://louisville.edu/policies/policies-and-procedures/pageholder/pol-viewpoint-neutrality

Senate Joint Resolution 55 (SJR 55) https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/acts/25RS/documents/0157.pdf

KRS 344.450 Civil remedies for injunction and damages https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=32648

KRS 164.348 Campus free speech protection https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=49294 

Mandatory Student Notifications

At the start of each academic semester, the Office of the Dean of Students shall notify all enrolled students, in writing, of the following: 

• The rights protected at the University under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and clear instructions on how a student may file a complaint if the student believes those rights have been violated. 
• The provision under Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 344.450 provides any person injured by certain discriminatory acts with a civil cause of action to enjoin further violations and recover actual damages and legal costs. 
• The official University policies regarding student-on-student harassment. 

The mandatory student notifications shall be provided through the distribution of the University’s student handbook.

Recognition of Jewish Student Groups

All Jewish groups that seek to serve Jewish students attending the University shall be identified as community resources to the same extent and on the same terms as any other religious organization is recognized by the University as a community resource. 

The University does not maintain an official process for identifying community resources. However, religious organizations seeking to serve University students may contact the Office of Student Affairs, which shall add them to the list of organizations/places of worship found on the Office’s religious and spiritual life webpage, https://student.louisville.edu/religion.

Data Collection

The University Integrity and Compliance Office is responsible for collecting and maintaining data on the following: 

• The number of reports alleging Antisemitism submitted to the University, the number of investigations opened because of those reports, and the final outcomes of those investigations. 
• The number of reports alleging a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 connected to Antisemitism of which the University has been notified, along with the results of those investigations that are in the University’s possession. 
• The number of civil actions that have been brought against the institution under KRS 344.450 and the outcomes of such actions. 

Annual Reporting of Data Collected

By June 30 of each year, and until July 1, 2028, the University shall report the data collected by the University Integrity and Compliance Office to the Kentucky Council of Postsecondary Education (CPE). 

The initial report, due June 30, 2026, shall include all available data from academic years 24–25 and 25–26. Subsequent annual reports shall only cover the year immediately prior.

Material Support or Resources to Designated Terrorist Organizations

Any registered student organization found by the University, following a thorough investigation and provision of due process, to be providing material support or resources to an organization designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government shall be immediately deregistered and defunded. The University must report such activities to appropriate law enforcement authorities.

POLICY COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

Any suspected non-compliance with this policy should be submitted to the University’s Integrity and Compliance Office for appropriate routing and review. 

Individuals found to have violated this policy will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with applicable University policies, including, but not limited to, the University’s Faculty Accountability Policy, Code of Student Conduct, and Discipline Policy (for administrators and staff). Disciplinary actions may include, but are not limited to, suspension, demotion, termination, or in the case of students, dismissal. 

This policy is intended to be implemented in full compliance with the requirements of state and federal law and in a manner that respects and upholds the First Amendment rights of all members of the community. 

The University shall continue to protect the fundamental and constitutional right of all students and faculty to freedom of expression; grant students and faculty the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, learn, and discuss any issue; maintain a marketplace of ideas where the free exchange of ideas is not suppressed because an idea put forth is considered by some or even most to be offensive, unwise, disagreeable, conservative, liberal, traditional, or radical; ensure students and faculty do not substantially obstruct or otherwise interfere with the freedom of others to express their views; and ensure that the expression of a student’s religious or political viewpoints in assignments is free from discrimination or penalty based on the religious or political content of the submissions. 

This policy shall not be construed as diminishing the effect of, and rights granted by, the University’s Viewpoint Neutrality Policy and Reports of Bias, Discrimination, and Harassment Policy. It shall instead be viewed as a supplement to both policies.

Antisemitism: For the purposes of informing and guiding this policy, the University adopts the working definition of “Antisemitism” as established by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and recognized by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2021 Regular Session Senate Resolution 67. The IHRA definition is: 

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions, and religious facilities.” 

The University will use this definition as a guiding resource for training, education, and identifying antisemitic intent or incidents of bias, discrimination, or harassment.

The University shall not interpret or apply the IHRA definition in a manner that prohibits speech or expression that is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or Section 1 of the Constitution of Kentucky.

The Office of the Dean of Students is responsible for notifying all enrolled students in writing of the rights and laws referenced in this policy. 

The Office of Legal Compliance and Investigations is responsible for investigating complaints of Antisemitism in accordance with the policy and procedures of reports of Bias, Discrimination, and Harassment. 

The University Integrity and Compliance Office is responsible for ensuring reports of non-compliance with this policy are appropriately investigated and for collecting and maintaining data required under this policy.