Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) has a Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life.

Litigation & Investigations

In May 2025, the President testified at a May 2025 Committee hearing examining the prevalence of antisemitism on the University campus. Following his testimony, in June 2025, the Education and Workforce Committee Chairman sent a letter to Cal Poly SLO requesting additional information.

In September 2025, it was announced that the entire California State University system, which includes Cal Poly SLO, was under investigation by the federal government over allegations of antisemitism.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In May 2024, a faculty member at the university received an email containing antisemitic messages. The messages claimed that "Jewish groups are paying to send U.S. police to train in Israel...to protect Illuminati Jewish elite," that "Jews control the media and own America" and that Jews "are declaring war on the entire white race." That same month, students at Cal Poly issued a 25-page document demanding the University divest from Israel, highlighting ongoing tensions on campus.

In October 2024, graffiti was spray-painted on campus buildings that read "From Gaza to Cal Poly, let the intifada spread." Also in October 2024, at an anti-Israel rally celebrating the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, antisemitic terrorist attack, protesters displayed a banner that read, “End the occupation” with inverted red triangle imagery, a symbol associated with Hamas.

In June 2025, the Cal Poly SLO Financial Aid and Student Accounts Office was attacked by approximately four masked individuals who sprayed graffiti on the walls stating “Free Palestine” and “Divest.” They also spray painted the carpets, cubicles, and computers, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Cal Poly Students for Quality Education (SQE) was reportedly responsible for this incident. To date, the administration has not publicly acknowledged the impact of the incident on the Jewish campus community.

In January 2026, the Cal Poly Library website released an Israel-Palestine research guide, which spread false information about Zionism and criticized the campus Hillel. The guide also suggested that several anti-Zionist student organizations - including Cal Poly Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Cal Poly Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), the Young Democratic Socialists of America, Cal Poly Social Justice Coalition, and Cal Poly SQE - should be viewed in a positive light. The University initially offered only to relocate the guide to another publicly accessible section of its website, and the material was removed only after complaints from the community and ADL. To date, the University has not acknowledged the antisemitic nature of the material or apologized to SLO Hillel, the student group unfairly targeted by the guide.

That same month, it was discovered that the campus library has a display of Israel-Palestine books, which reportedly primarily contained publications demonizing Israel and Zionism. The University agreed to include Zionist and/or Jewish perspectives in the display only after a Jewish student filed a complaint.

University Policies and Responsive Action

In October 2023, Cal Poly SLO President Armstrong apologized for the administration's initial statement following the Hamas attack on Israel, which was seen as lacking.

In Spring 2025, the University established a Presidential Antisemitism Task Force, tasked with evaluating data gathered through a Jewish climate survey and developing a campus action plan that is focused on Jewish student life, antisemitism education, and cultural awareness.

In 2025, Cal Poly SLO included a statement about antisemitism in its 2026-2028 Academic Catalog which serves as a critical reference for all academic services and programs, student resources, and more. Cal Poly SLO also updated the required CSU systemwide annual discrimination and harassment training for employees to include education about antisemitism and hate. All students are trained on discrimination and harassment, and the University is updating the mandatory freshman and transfer orientation programs to include education about antisemitism. During the 2025 Week of Welcome (WOW), which is hosted in the fall for first year and transfer students, programming on antisemitism was also included.

The University has recently established a Jewish alumni group.

*On April 13, 2026, following the submission of new information related to campus efforts to address antisemitism and strengthen Jewish life, Cal Poly SLO's 2026 grade was revised from D to C.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) has a Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek life.

Litigation & Investigations

In May 2025, the President testified at a May 2025 Committee hearing examining the prevalence of antisemitism on the University campus. Following his testimony, in June 2025, the Education and Workforce Committee Chairman sent a letter to Cal Poly SLO requesting additional information.

In September 2025, it was announced that the entire California State University system, which includes Cal Poly SLO, was under investigation by the federal government over allegations of antisemitism.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In May 2024, a faculty member at the university received an email containing antisemitic messages. The messages claimed that "Jewish groups are paying to send U.S. police to train in Israel...to protect Illuminati Jewish elite," that "Jews control the media and own America" and that Jews "are declaring war on the entire white race." That same month, students at Cal Poly issued a 25-page document demanding the University divest from Israel, highlighting ongoing tensions on campus.

In October 2024, graffiti was spray-painted on campus buildings that read "From Gaza to Cal Poly, let the intifada spread." Also in October 2024, at an anti-Israel rally celebrating the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, antisemitic terrorist attack, protesters displayed a banner that read, “End the occupation” with inverted red triangle imagery, a symbol associated with Hamas.

In June 2025, the Cal Poly SLO Financial Aid and Student Accounts Office was attacked by approximately four masked individuals who sprayed graffiti on the walls stating “Free Palestine” and “Divest.” They also spray painted the carpets, cubicles, and computers, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Cal Poly Students for Quality Education (SQE) was reportedly responsible for this incident. To date, the administration has not publicly acknowledged the impact of the incident on the Jewish campus community.

In January 2026, the Cal Poly Library website released an Israel-Palestine research guide, which spread false information about Zionism and criticized the campus Hillel. The guide also suggested that several anti-Zionist student organizations - including Cal Poly Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Cal Poly Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), the Young Democratic Socialists of America, Cal Poly Social Justice Coalition, and Cal Poly SQE - should be viewed in a positive light. The University initially offered only to relocate the guide to another publicly accessible section of its website, and the material was removed only after complaints from the community and ADL. To date, the University has not acknowledged the antisemitic nature of the material or apologized to SLO Hillel, the student group unfairly targeted by the guide.

That same month, it was discovered that the campus library has a display of Israel-Palestine books, which reportedly primarily contained publications demonizing Israel and Zionism. The University agreed to include Zionist and/or Jewish perspectives in the display only after a Jewish student filed a complaint.

University Policies and Responsive Action

In October 2023, Cal Poly SLO President Armstrong apologized for the administration's initial statement following the Hamas attack on Israel, which was seen as lacking.

In Spring 2025, the University established a Presidential Antisemitism Task Force, tasked with evaluating data gathered through a Jewish climate survey and developing a campus action plan that is focused on Jewish student life, antisemitism education, and cultural awareness.

In 2025, Cal Poly SLO included a statement about antisemitism in its 2026-2028 Academic Catalog which serves as a critical reference for all academic services and programs, student resources, and more. Cal Poly SLO also updated the required CSU systemwide annual discrimination and harassment training for employees to include education about antisemitism and hate. All students are trained on discrimination and harassment, and the University is updating the mandatory freshman and transfer orientation programs to include education about antisemitism. During the 2025 Week of Welcome (WOW), which is hosted in the fall for first year and transfer students, programming on antisemitism was also included.

The University has recently established a Jewish alumni group.

*On April 13, 2026, following the submission of new information related to campus efforts to address antisemitism and strengthen Jewish life, Cal Poly SLO's 2026 grade was revised from D to C.