Snow College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities and fulfilling obligations under State and Federal law. This Policy governs the use of assistance animals on campus by persons with disabilities.
The college recognizes the broader category of “Assistance Animals” under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that provide physical and/or emotional support to individuals with disabilities. “Assistance Animals” are defined as a category of animals that may work, provide assistance, or perform physical tasks for an individual with a disability and/or provide necessary emotional support to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability, but which are not considered Service Animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA).
A person may reside with an Assistance Animal in housing as a reasonable accommodation if:
The Emotional Support Animal (ESA) must be contained within the resident’s privately assigned individual living quarters (room, suite, apartment) except to the extent the resident is taking the animal out for natural relief. When the ESA is outside the resident’s private living quarters, the animal must be in an animal carrier or controlled by a leash or harness. The ESA is not permitted in other areas of the college (e.g., other residence halls or apartment buildings, dining facilities, academic buildings, athletic buildings and facilities, classrooms, labs, libraries, etc.).
Emotional Support animals are encouraged to be at least 12 months of age.
This checklist must be completed before the animal can be brought into college housing.
A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a record of such impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment.
The college recognizes “Service Animals” as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA). Pursuant to that law, a service animal is defined as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained, or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability. The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
Service animals on campus must comply with all state and local licensure and vaccination requirements.
The care and supervision of a service animal is the responsibility of the individual who uses the animal’s service. The individual must always maintain control of the animal. The individual using the animal’s service is responsible for ensuring the cleanup of all animal waste and for any damage caused by the animal. College officials and staff may designate animal toileting areas.
The college may prohibit the use of service animals in certain locations due to health or safety restrictions, where service animals may be in danger, or where their use may compromise the integrity of research. Exceptions to restricted areas may be granted on a case-by-case basis by contacting the Office of Disability Services (ODS). In making its decision, ODS will consult with the appropriate department regarding the nature of the restricted area.
Service dogs in training are permitted on campus in all public facilities on the same basis as working service animals (see Section above), provided that the dog is being led or accompanied by a trainer for the purpose of training the dog and the trainer has documentation confirming the trainer is affiliated with a recognized or certified service dog training organization.
Only adult dogs (twelve months of age or older) are considered service dogs in training under college policy. “Puppies in training” are not permitted in college buildings.
Service dogs in training are not permitted in classrooms, offices, or other areas of campus buildings not open to the general public.
A student with a disability who wishes to utilize a service dog in training in college housing, classrooms, offices, or other areas of campus buildings not open to the general public must register with ODS and seek approval through the reasonable accommodation process.
A service animal may be removed from college facilities or grounds if disruptive (e.g., barking, wandering, displaying aggressive behavior) and the behavior is outside the duties of the service animal. Ill, unhygienic, and/or unsanitary service animals are not permitted in public campus areas. The individual responsible for such an animal may be required to remove the animal.
The College provides reasonable accommodations to housing residents with a documented disability. This Policy governs the use of Assistance Animals in College Housing. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) identifies two types of assistance animals: (1) service animals, and (2) other trained or untrained animals that do work, perform tasks, provide assistance, and/or provide therapeutic emotional support for individuals with disabilities.