What are assistance animals?
An assistance animal is a common household animal approved as a disability-related housing accommodation when the animal is determined to provide support or assistance that mitigates one or more identified functional limitations associated with a student’s disability and is necessary to support the student’s equal access to university housing. Assistance animals do not necessarily require specialized training.
Requests involving animals that may present heightened health, safety, sanitation, or operational concerns within the communal residential environment may require additional individualized review and may be determined to be unreasonable within university housing.
Students approved for an assistance animal accommodation are required to complete the Animal Conversation Course in Canvas prior to bringing the animal into university housing and must comply with University Housing procedures related to assistance animal identification and residential notification, including maintaining a university-issued assistance animal identification card and displaying a university-issued “Animal in Residence” notice on the assigned residential unit door.
How can students get an assistance animal accommodation?
To request an assistance animal accommodation, students should connect with SAS. In addition to documentation needed to establish a student’s disability, students are required to provide documentation from a licensed healthcare or mental health provider with personal knowledge of the student’s disability-related functional limitations and who is not related to the student. The documentation must support the disability-related need for the assistance animal within the residential environment.
Documentation should support the relationship between the student’s identified functional limitations and the necessity of the assistance animal to provide equal access to university housing as part of a disability-related housing accommodation.
Documentation should include:
The student’s disability;
The student’s current disability-related functional limitations impacting the residential environment;
The specific type of animal for which the accommodation is being requested;
The name or identifying information of the specific animal;
The established history and ongoing role of the assistance animal in mitigating disability-related barriers impacting the student’s use of university housing; and
The necessity of the assistance animal to support the student’s equal access to university housing.
SAS will make individualized determinations on a case-by-case basis based on the specific circumstances presented and available information regarding the animal and the student. Such determinations may be made in consultation with University Housing and other relevant University officials. SAS, in consultation with the student and other parties as appropriate, may consider the criteria below when evaluating whether the requested assistance animal is necessary and reasonable as part of a disability-related housing accommodation:
Whether the animal poses or has posed in the past a direct threat to the health or safety of the student or others;
Whether the animal causes or has caused excessive damage to university property beyond reasonable wear and tear;
Whether the animal presents health, sanitation, or operational concerns within the communal residential environment;
Whether the age, size, type, or care requirements of the animal are incompatible with the available housing environment;
Whether the animal’s presence substantially interferes with the ability of others to use and enjoy the residential environment; and
Whether the animal is housebroken, appropriately contained, and able to be maintained in a manner consistent with communal living expectations.
Where can assistance animals go?
Assistance animals approved through SAS are permitted only within the student’s assigned residential unit and designated outdoor areas necessary for natural relief and transit to and from the residential unit. Assistance animals are not permitted in other indoor areas of campus.
If approved, SAS will notify University Housing of the accommodation. Only information necessary to implement the accommodation will be shared. Disability-related information will not be shared outside of SAS except as permitted by law and University policy. Information regarding the approved animal may be shared with University Housing personnel who have a legitimate educational or operational need to know, including Residence Assistants.
If the student is assigned to a living space with one or more roommates or suitemates, University Housing may share information regarding the approved assistance animal with the assigned roommates or suitemates as necessary to facilitate housing operations and residential living arrangements. Students are encouraged to discuss the presence of the assistance animal with roommates or suitemates and address expectations through the roommate agreement process.
Student responsibilities:
Students approved for an assistance animal accommodation are responsible for:
Keeping the animal only within the approved residential unit and designated outdoor areas necessary for natural relief and transit to and from the residential unit.
Maintaining control of the animal at all times. Assistance animals outside of the residential unit must be maintained in an appropriate carrier or on a leash or harness.
Ensuring the animal is safely maintained within the residential unit when the student is not present.
Cleaning up and properly disposing of animal waste in a timely, safe, and sanitary manner.
Complying with all applicable laws, regulations, licensing requirements, vaccination requirements, and University policies. It is the student’s responsibility to know and understand these ordinances, laws, and regulations. The university may require documentation of such compliance, including license or vaccination records.
Ensuring the animal does not create health, sanitation, safety, or operational concerns within the residential environment.
Providing appropriate care for the animal and preventing neglect, mistreatment, or abandonment.
Maintaining an emergency care and evacuation plan for the animal.
Assuming responsibility for any damage, pest treatment, remediation or repair costs resulting from the presence of the animal beyond reasonable wear and tear. Residential units may be inspected for fleas, ticks, or other pests, and students may be billed for treatment costs above and beyond standard residence hall pest management. Property damage and related charges may be assessed to the student's account in the same manner as other residence hall damage charges.
Notifying SAS if the assistance animal is no longer needed, is no longer residing in University housing, or is being replaced. Any replacement animal must be necessary because of the student's disability and approved through SAS in accordance with accommodation request procedures. Students are also responsible for notifying SAS of their intent to continue utilizing the assistance animal accommodation in subsequent semesters or academic years.
Removal of the assistance animal
The university may require removal of the assistance animal from university housing if:
The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of the student or others;
The animal causes substantial damage to university property or the property of others beyond reasonable wear and tear;
The animal presents health, sanitation, or operational concerns that cannot be reasonably mitigated within the residential environment;
The animal's presence results in a fundamental alteration of a university program or service;
The student fails to comply with applicable University Housing procedures or responsibilities related to the approved assistance animal; or
The animal's presence creates a substantial disturbance or interference with the residential community.
In situations where the assistance animal is believed to cause harm, damage, or a substantial disturbance, the university may use housing and conduct procedures to hold the student accountable. This includes holding the student responsible for repairs or replacements and the potential removal of the animal. If an assistance animal is removed from university housing, the student remains responsible for fulfilling all obligations associated with the housing contract. In this circumstance, students may meet with SAS to determine if alternative accommodations are appropriate.
Students found to be falsely representing an animal as an approved assistance animal may be subject to discipline in accordance with applicable university policies.
Contact your Access Advisor with questions or concerns.