University President Michael Adams announced Friday the plan to hire three ombudspersons to address discrimination and harassment claims at the University.

Adams issued an update on the Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy during a Cabinet meeting. Enforcement of the policy will move from the Office of Legal Affairs to the Equal Opportunity Office, a move Adams said he wants in place by Oct. 1.

“Before the end of the calendar year, every person in the senior administration as well as deans, associate deans, and department heads, will undergo NDAH training,” Adams wrote in a statement released during the meeting. Senior administration will begin training May 8.

The three ombudspersons will represent students, faculty and staff – one ombudsperson for students in the Division of Student Affairs; one for faculty in Academic Affairs; and one ombudsperson for staff in Human Resources.

“The scope of work of these individuals, who will be trained in University, University System, state, and federal policies and procedures, will be to provide informal and confidential assistance to persons with issues or concerns,” according to the statement.

“I’ve been thinking about changes from the first story,” Adams said to members of The Red & Black present at the meeting. “I detest the allegations, especially when it’s between faculty and students. I don’t know how to say it any stronger.”

Adams said he wants to employ the three ombudsperson strategy for one or two years and then revisit the policy. The ultimate idea is for culture change, he said.

“I’m not interested in changing the world .. but I’m trying to deal with a problem that’s shown to exist in greater measure than I’m comfortable with,” he said. “We need to apply the full weight of the University . . . and we will spend the money to do it.”

Adams’ recommendations are not based on other systems but are tailored to the situation at hand.

The University administration will work with University Council to update and revise the policy. The policy will be made accessible on the University Web site, as well as contact information for the ombudspersons. As an immediate resource, services for women will be placed on the University’s Web site concerning health, counseling, support, harassment or other needs.

Additional training will be provided to current counseling staff to help them respond to incidents regarding discrimination or harassment.

Patricia Richards and Linda Renzulli, associate professors of sociology, said they were happy with the proposal.

“I’m impressed with the willingness to make changes,” Renzulli said.

The two disagreed on a “few minor points around the form of the ombudsperson program,” Richards said. “But the focus and recognition of a cultural shift is to be commended.”

Adams supports the idea of a women’s center and said he is aware the recommendation passed University Council Thursday, but he is considering the financial resources needed to support it in light of “equally pressing needs in the areas of child care, psychological services, public safety, energy management and water conservation, and the primary and urgent need to maintain and improve competitive faculty salaries.”