Karla Goldman, Sol Drachler professor of Social Work and professor of Judaic Studies at U-M, speaks about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Michigan during the Era of Jewish Admissions Quotas, 1925-1939. Kosher reception to follow. About the talk:

Beginning in the 1920s, as Northeastern elite private universities began imposing quotas on the percentage of Jewish students on campus, the University of Michigan became an attractive destination for children of East Coast immigrant families. The University has long pointed to the presence of Jewish students during this period as evidence of its historic commitment to inclusion and diversity.

Efforts by American universities to limit the number of Jews on campus in the early and mid-twentieth century was an important factor in shaping American university admissions policies and education. Understanding how and whether the University of Michigan participated in these exclusionary developments is critical to the history of the University. Professor Goldman discusses evidence drawn from University admissions practices and the religious profile of University of Michigan students in the 1920s and 30s to explore the ways in which the University both welcomed and limited the presence of Jewish students in this period. Given the intense focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in this bicentennial year of the University of Michigan, a better understanding of the University’s historical approach to inclusion and diversity is particularly timely.

We suggest you arrive early or stay late to see the related exhibit, Striving to Stimulate Serious Thought: Jewish Scholarly and Cultural Life at Michigan Across Two Centuries on display in the Special Collections space on the 7th floor of the Hatcher Graduate Library South. The exhibit will stay open late, until 7pm.