She adds that the climate survey the task forces have recommended—which Faust says will begin in the fall—and other data-collection mechanisms provided for in the reports should make it easier to identify areas in need of cultural change.

Grosz says that the task forces focused on developing accountability structures to ensure implementation of the recommendations.

“Once we have a structure of oversight in place, I will feel more confident that our recommendations will see the light of day,” Cohen writes.

SHOWING THEM THE MONEY

Professors and administrators say the $50 million allocation toward the implementation of the task force recommendations is a symbol of Summers’ dedication to the proposals.

Faust says that Summers arrived at the $50 million figure himself after hearing the task force proposals.

“He responded to the reports, which he received on May 16, with a decision to commit that amount of money as a kind of indication of sincerity and good intentions,” Faust says.

Kirby says that it would be possible to spend the entire allocation just in beginning to implement the recommendations.

“It’s a fund that could be spent in a very short order simply by the hiring of a number of scientists,” Kirby says, though he added that hiring is not the only purpose of the allocation, and that FAS has other means to hire professors.

Summers says that the $50 million is a baseline number.

“I am confident that the $50 million is a floor on what the University as a whole is going to need to commit to this effort, and it seemed important to make clear that there was going to be a significant...tangible effort,” Summers says.

—Staff writer Sara E. Polsky can be reached at polsky@fas.harvard.edu.