Florida Atlantic University now accepts transfer credit from Bar-Ilan's Israel XP gap-year program, letting students defer enrollment for a year in Israel.
Florida Atlantic University completed an accreditation agreement with Bar-Ilan University's Israel XP gap-year program. This agreement, confirmed in September 2026, allows course credits earned in Israel to transfer directly toward an FAU degree, guaranteed in advance. It also clarifies FAU's deferred enrollment policy, permitting an accepted high school senior to postpone enrollment for a year in Israel with a guaranteed seat upon return.
What is the FAU and Bar-Ilan University agreement?
Florida Atlantic University and Bar-Ilan University agreed to a partnership allowing students in Bar-Ilan's Israel XP gap-year program to transfer credits toward an FAU degree. BocaNewsNow reported this as a first-of-its-kind agreement. The agreement covers approved course equivalencies students complete during their gap year.
Bar-Ilan University's Vice President for International Affairs, Rivka Tuval-Mashiach, helped launch the partnership. The event included college counselors and administrators from South Florida's private Jewish high schools. FAU President Adam Hasner stated the agreement meets students "where they are," acknowledging that a year of study and connection to Israel is a foundational experience for many Jewish students. FAU sought a path to keep these students on track toward a degree.
FAU also highlighted its deferred enrollment policy during the event. This policy allows students to secure their spot at FAU before traveling overseas.
Israel XP students take Judaic studies each morning and general studies each afternoon, according to Bar-Ilan's own program materials. The general studies mirror a typical freshman course load at a North American university, covering English, mathematics, science, psychology and business.
Why does deferred enrollment matter for families?
FAU's accreditation agreement with Bar-Ilan University removes a significant administrative burden for families whose children study at Bar-Ilan before college. Previously, students returning from a Bar-Ilan affiliated program often spent months seeking a professor to review their syllabus. Transfer credits were then approved on a case-by-case basis. Under the new arrangement, students know in advance that Israel gap-year programs, such as Israel XP, will transfer credit toward an FAU degree.
More than 3,000 students started Israel gap-year programs this fall, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. This enrollment pace matches levels seen before the October 7, 2023 attacks. Bar-Ilan's Israel XP program enrolls approximately 120 English-speaking students at a time, according to its own materials. The program is accredited under Israel's Ministry of Education. Bar-Ilan's international school, which runs Israel XP, describes the program as MASA-approved, meaning it also qualifies for subsidies through the Jewish Agency's gap-year funding network.
Who championed this policy at FAU?
Attorney Joseph "Joey" Sabag worked closely with the Florida Israel Institute on this policy. The Florida Israel Institute is a state-created linkage institute housed at FAU. Sabag has been involved in the broader effort connecting Florida's university system to Israel.
Sabag is the executive director of IAC for Action, the policy arm of the Israeli-American Council. He spent a decade drafting Florida's anti-boycott and antisemitism-definition statutes. This policy work precedes his current advisory role for the Israel XP partnership. The Florida Israel Institute was created by the Florida legislature and is jointly administered by FAU and Broward College. Its mandate is to build academic, commerce, and cultural links between Florida and Israel.
The Institute operates under Florida Statute 288.9175, which authorizes linkage institutes between Florida's public universities and foreign countries. Beyond the Bar-Ilan credit deal, FAU's Florida Israel Institute has pursued faculty and student exchange agreements with other Israeli universities, including the Technion, according to the Institute's own published materials.
How does this fit FAU's shift under Adam Hasner?
Adam Hasner became FAU's eighth president in March 2025 and identifies as the university's first Jewish president. He has publicly stated his goal for FAU to become the safest and most welcoming university for Jewish student life at US universities.
FAU supported this goal financially in November 2025 by expanding its Israel Bonds holdings to $8.2 million. This is the largest Israel Bonds portfolio of any university worldwide, according to FAU's announcement. A separate $20 million gift from Kurt and Marilyn Wallach funds a new building on campus. This building will house Judaic studies, Holocaust education, and the Florida Israel Institute.
FAU also welcomed its largest freshman class in university history this fall, with approximately 4,800 students from 60,000 applications. Hasner shared these figures with WPBF 25 News in August 2026.
Key Takeaways from the FAU-Bar-Ilan Deal
FAU's Bar-Ilan accreditation deal is a specific administrative solution with broader implications. It removes a practical obstacle for Jewish day school families considering a gap year in Israel, addressing concerns about losing transfer credit. This agreement occurs alongside FAU's record Israel Bonds investment and the development of a new Holocaust and Jewish studies building. These initiatives collectively suggest a university that views Jewish student life as a competitive advantage worth investing in. The unanswered question is how many other Florida or out-of-state universities will follow FAU's example.
