SERVICE AND ASSISTANCE ANIMAL POLICY
Susquehanna University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities who require the use of Service Animals as a reasonable accommodation may be permitted to bring such animals on campus as long as they comply with the applicable University policies below. Students who require the use of Assistance Animals may be permitted to bring such animals into University housing as long as they comply with the applicable University policies below. As outlined in the Residence Life On-Campus Housing Policies in the Student Handbook, “Animals (with the exception of small fish in a 20-gallon or less tank, service or assistance animals) are not permitted in the residence halls.” This policy addresses service and assistance animals for students. Members of the Faculty and Staff should contact the Office of Human Resources for information and procedures regarding Service and Assistance Animals on campus. Definitions • Service Animals: In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines, a "Service Animal" is defined as a dog, or in some cases a miniature horse, that has been 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 animals, whether wild or domestic, do not qualify as Service Animals. A Service Animal assists a person with a disability with activities of daily living • Assistance Animal: In accordance with the Fair Housing Act guidelines, an “Assistance Animal” works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. An Assistance Animal may also provide emotional support to alleviate one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability. No special training is required. An assistance animal is not a pet. The purpose of the Assistance Animal is to perform the assistance or provide the benefit needed as a reasonable accommodation to allow a person with a disability to enjoy his or her housing. Unlike a Service Animal, an Assistance Animal does not assist a person with a disability with activities of daily living. While an Assistance Animal may be considered for access to University housing, they are not permitted in other buildings of the University (e.g., library, academic buildings, classrooms, gym, dining facilities). • Owner of a Service Animal: The “Owner of a Service Animal” is a student, faculty member, or staff member who has requested the accommodation and has received approval to bring the Service Animal on campus. • Owner of an Assistance Animal: The “Owner of an Assistance Animal” is the student who has requested the accommodation and has received approval to bring the Assistance Animal into his or her residence within University housing. Procedures to have Service Animals on Campus • Students with disabilities who desire to use a Service Animal on campus must formally register with the Office of Disability Services and request the use of a Service Animal as an accommodation. • Upon receiving a request for the use of a Service Animal, the Director of Disability Services will schedule an appointment with the student to discuss the accommodation request. • If it is not readily apparent that the Service Animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for the individual, then the Director of Disability Services will ask: o Whether the Service Animal is required because of a disability, and o What work or tasks the Service Animal has been trained to perform • If a student has been approved for a Service Animal and also intends to live on campus, all of the student’s roommate(s) or suitemate(s) will be notified to make them aware of the approval, and notify them that the approved animal will be sharing the residence with them. The notification will be limited to communication about the animal’s presence, and there will be no disclosure of the student’s specific disability. Disability Services and Residence Life staff will collaborate, as necessary, to resolve conflicts related to a Service Animal. Conflicts between Service Animals and others’ allergies, phobias, etc. will be addressed on a case-by-case basis (e.g., relocation to another University housing location). • The requested Service Animal accommodation will be denied if: o The animal is out of control and the Owner of the Service Animal does not take effective action to control it; o The animal is not housebroken (i.e., trained so that the animal controls its waste elimination); or o The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by a reasonable modification to other policies, practices, and procedures.
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