DeSantis Orders Florida Universities to Expedite Transfer Process for Jewish Students Facing Persecution

Governor Ron DeSantis directed the State University System of Florida and the Florida College System to waive certain transfer application requirements for Jewish students who have a “well-founded fear of antisemitic persecution” at their current institution.

The order, announced Monday, will clear credit-hour and application-window requirements that would hinder an otherwise academically eligible transfer student.

According to the governor’s office, the state of Florida is receiving an “elevated number” of inquiries from out-of-state students seeking to transfer to Florida universities and colleges.

DeSantis rooted the cause of this uptick in the antisemitism prevalent at other universities: “With leaders of so-called elite universities enabling antisemitic activities, rather than protecting their students from threats and harassment, it is understandable that many Jewish students are looking for alternatives and looking to Florida.”

The State University System of Florida Board of Governors released their emergency order, following DeSantis’s Executive Order, on January 9. The document cites the rise in antisemitism across the U.S. as its cause, noting “antisemitic incidents in the United States have increased by 388% in the aftermath of the attack on Israel.” The order also stems from the particular impact this increase has had on college campuses: “73% of Jewish college students surveyed have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year alone.”

Raymond Rodrigues, the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida, issued the emergency order to “remove barriers for undergraduate students who are seeking to transfer to a Florida university because of a well-founded fear of antisemitic or other religious discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or violence at an out-of-state, degree-granting, accredited institution, within the United States.”

The order will also remove out-of-state fees, tuition, and enrollment limitations for non-Florida residents seeking to transfer who possess “a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of religion.”

“This fear can be established by an applicant who can demonstrate that he or she has suffered, is currently suffering, or credibly fears suffering future discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or violence, either at their current institution or with a substantial nexus to their current institution, on the basis of religion.”

Florida universities may require several documents from a prospective transfer student to prove that their fear is “well-founded,” including a statement from the prospective student, statements from witnesses, recordings or photographs, official records of complaints filed with the college, university or law enforcement, and “any other relevant information or material germane to an applicant’s claim.”

“Throughout my tenure as Governor, we have implemented measures to safeguard our Jewish communities from hatred in the K–20 school system, and with this announcement, we want to again make it clear that Jewish students are welcome to live and learn in Florida where they will be respected and not persecuted due to their faith,” DeSantis said.