School entities, including student governments, associated with the University of California are banned from boycotting Israel as the Trump administration continues to crack down on antisemitism on college campuses with looming funding cuts.
UC President Michael Drake directed campuses in a letter that boycotts linked to a “particular country” are considered a violation of the school policy.
“While our community members have the right to express their viewpoints, financial boycotts are inconsistent with UC’s commitment to sound business practices, academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas,” the UC Office of the President said in a statement.”
The school system highlighted that the new directive aims to follow the federal government’s guideline to avoid jeopardizing funding.
”This communication coincides with new terms that have been added by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Science Foundation to new federal grants that require institutions to certify that they don’t and will not engage in boycotts of Israel,” Drake’s office said.
The chancellors of all 10 UC campuses also signed a letter, affirming their opposition to an “academic boycott” of Israeli academic institutions scholars.
“Our commitment to continued engagement and partnership with Israeli, as well as Palestinian colleagues, colleges and universities is unwavering,” the signed letter said. “We believe a boycott of this sort poses a direct and serious threat to the academic freedom of our students and faculty, as well as the unfettered exchange of ideas and perspectives on our campuses, including debate and discourse regarding conflicts in the Middle East.”
Drake’s directive came as the Trump administration threatened to cut federal funding for 60 colleges, including four UC campuses, accusing them of violating civil rights and discriminating against Jewish students.
The March letter from the U.S. Department of Education said it could rescind funding if the schools, including UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara, failed to uphold Title VI, which makes it illegal to discriminate “on the basis of race, color, and national origin” in any activities that get federal funding.
UCLA has also been accused of enabling antisemitism as the Department of Justice filed court documents in March, accusing the LA campus of trying to evade responsibility over alleged antisemitism, after a group of Jewish students claimed pro-Israel students were blocked from using walkways during a pro-Palestinian campus protest in 2024.