Education is about learning—facts, skills, concepts, research, culture, analysis and inspiration. It is supposed to enrich our lives and make us better citizens and independent thinkers. But over the last decade and a half, the goal of learning has given way to proxies for learning: grades and degrees. The unfortunate result has been inflation of both.

The new programs will aim to counter the "deeply disturbing" rise in antisemitism at Berkeley and elsewhere since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in southern Israel, Chancellor Carol Christ said in a letter to members of her advisory committee on Jewish student life and campus climate.