New Director Promotes Respect and Accountability

Beth Anne Voight-Jause taps into experience at SHU as she takes on new position

With experience as Sacred Heart University’s director of community standards and previous work in the office of residential life, longtime SHU employee Beth Anne Voight-Jause is ready to take on new responsibilities as the executive director of community standards and Title IX coordinator.

Voight-Jause steps into the new post with a wealth of knowledge about student conduct and crises. Her time working closely with students, especially in her residential life position, has given her the skill set needed to succeed in a role of this importance.

She is eager to implement her knowledge on a broader scale, and this position will allow her to do just that. Denise Tiberio, SHU dean of students, is confident Voight-Jause will find success in her new role. “Beth Anne’s extensive background in student affairs and commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable environments make her an invaluable addition to our team,” Tiberio said. “I am confident she will excel in her ongoing efforts to promote a culture of respect and accountability on campus.”

In a question-and-answer interview, Voight-Jause shared how she will find success taking on this new challenge.

How will your previous experiences help you achieve success in this role?

In the last 12 years at SHU, I have worked in residential life and student conduct roles that have given me a wide variety of experiences working with students in crises, conflicts and policy violations. I have seen firsthand the development of both our student conduct and Title IX practices as we adapt to our growing population and the changing needs of our students. That knowledge and experience is what is going to help me be successful as we combine the two areas into one new department under student affairs.

What are some of your key responsibilities moving forward?

I will be leading the creation of a new department and supervising two new staff members—a new deputy Title IX coordinator and a new director of community standards. I will oversee the University student code of conduct process and all aspects of compliance as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. I will also be responsible for ensuring that we comply with other relevant federal and state laws and regulations to ensure a campus environment free of discrimination and harassment based on sex or gender. In addition, I coordinate the student care team, a multidisciplinary committee that addresses students of concern.

What attracted you to this position?

In the last year as the director of student conduct and community standards, I worked very closely with our Title IX office as many cases we encounter are nuanced and involve a variety of our policies. As Title IX moves under the student affairs area, there will be some needed adjustments, especially as we adapt to new federal regulations. It is a natural fit to have someone oversee the staff handling the initial intake of both the Title IX and community standards cases and will hopefully give us a more efficient and collaborative approach to working with our students.

What do you hope to accomplish in this new role?

We will continue to address both conduct and Title IX cases as well as we have in the past, but what I am most hoping to accomplish moving forward is adding a much-needed component of preventive education and awareness. I hope to work with my new staff to challenge ourselves to find ways to equip students and staff with tools to recognize and prevent misconduct. I also want to significantly increase the number of training and prevention initiatives we have on campus related to dating violence, stalking, sexual assault and gender-based discrimination and harassment.

What makes the executive director of community standards and Title IX coordinator position so important in today’s collegiate landscape?

Today’s students face complex issues around inclusion, mental health and safety. They are highly attuned to matters of fairness and transparency. To promote a safe, equitable and supportive environment for all students, we need to set and uphold behavioral standards that foster respect and accountability. It is crucial to have someone in this role to address these issues by implementing policies that respond to evolving social norms and legal expectations.