ServiceandAssistanceAnimalPolicy

MichiganTechnologicalUniversityrecognizestheimportanceofServiceandAssistance
Animalstoindividualswithdisabilitiesandhasestablishedthefollowingpolicyregardingservice
animals,assistanceanimalsandsupportanimals(includingthoseintraining).Thispolicy
ensuresthatpeoplewithdisabilities,whorequiretheuseofsuchanimals,receivethebenefitof
theworkortasksperformedbysuchanimalsorthetherapeuticsupporttheyprovide.Michigan
TechiscommittedtoallowingpeoplewithdisabilitiestheuseofaServiceAnimaland
AssistanceAnimaloncampustofacilitatetheirfullparticipationandequalaccesstothe
Universitysprogramsandactivities.Setforthbelowarespecificrequirementsandguidelines
concerningtheappropriateuseofprotocolsassociatedwithServiceAnimalsandAssistance
Animals.MichiganTechreservestherighttoamendthispolicy,ascircumstancesrequire.

SectionI.Definitions

A.ServiceAnimal

AServiceAnimalisanyanimalthathasbeenspecificallytrainedtodoworkorperform
tasksforpeoplewithdisabilities.Examplesofsuchworkincludesensingananxietyattack,
guidingpeoplewhoareblind,alertingpeoplewhoaredeaf,pullingawheelchair,alertingand
protectingapersonwhohashadaseizure,remindingapersontotakemedication,or
performingotherduties.ServiceAnimalsareworkinganimalsandarenotpets.Theworkor
taskaServiceAnimalhasbeentrainedtoprovidemustdirectlyrelatetothepersonsdisability
andaccommodationneed.Dogswhosesolefunctionistoprovidecomfortoremotionalsupport
donotqualifyasserviceanimals.Aserviceanimalispermittedoncampusgroundsandwithin
universitybuildings,includingtheUniversityhousingassignmentprovidedtoanindividualwitha
disability.ThescopeoftheaccommodationisdeterminedattheDisabilityServicesoffice.All
studentsseekingtouseServiceAnimalsasanaccommodationmustgetthataccommodation
approvedinadvanceattheDisabilityServicesoffice.

B.AssistanceAnimals

AssistanceAnimalsare(1)animalsthatworkwith,provideassistance,orperformtasks
forthebenefitofapersonwithadisabilityor(2)animalsthatprovideemotionalsupportto
accommodateapersonsdisability.Some,butnotall,animalsthatassistpersonswith
disabilitiesareprofessionallytrained.TheownerstrainotherAssistanceAnimals.Insome
cases,nospecialtrainingisrequired.Thequestioniswhetherornottheanimalperformsthe
assistanceorprovidesthebenefitneededasareasonableaccommodationbythepersonwith
thedisability.UnlikeaServiceAnimal,anAssistanceAnimaldoesnotassistapersonwitha
disabilitywithactivitiesofdailyliving,nordoesitaccompanyapersonwithadisabilityatall
times.AssistanceAnimalsmaybeconsideredforaccesstouniversityhousing,however,they
arenotpermittedinotherareasoftheuniversity(ex.Library,academicbuildings,classrooms,
labs,etc.).ThescopeoftheaccommodationisdeterminedattheDisabilityServicesoffice.All

studentsseekingtouseAssistanceAnimalsasanaccommodationmustgetthat
accommodationapprovedinadvanceattheDisabilityServicesoffice.

C.Pet

APetisananimalkeptforordinaryuseandcompanionship.ApetisnotconsideredaService
AnimaloranAssistanceAnimal.
Forhealthandsanitationreasonspetsarenotpermittedinthe
residencehalls.Theexceptionstothisarenonpredatory,nonpoisonousfishinanaquarium
undertwentygallons,ifyourroommateapproves.
ThismandatefallsinlinewithMichiganTechnologicalUniversity
BoardofTrusteesOrdinance
No.3ControlofPets

D.ApprovedAnimal

AnApprovedAnimalisaServiceAnimalorAssistanceAnimalthathasbeenapprovedby
DisabilityServicesasareasonableaccommodationtothestudentunderthispolicy.

E.Owner

TheOwneristhestudentwhohasrequestedtheaccommodationandhasreceivedapproval
tobringtheapprovedanimaloncampus.

SectionII:ApplicationProcess

A. RequestsforServiceandAssistanceAnimalsshouldbemadeby
a. SubmittingdocumentationofdisabilitytoDisabilityServices
b. AfterastudentisapprovedforaServiceorAssistanceAnimal,theDisability
ServicesofficewillnotifyHousingoftheaccommodation
c. HousingandResidentialLifewillcontactthestudentwithimportantdetails
relatingtoaccommodationswithinoncampushousing

SectionIII:ResponsibilitiesandGuidelines

A. ThestudentwhoisapprovedfortheServiceorAssistanceAnimalisresponsibleforthe
care,cleanliness,andsupervisionoftheanimalatalltimes.
B. TheownerisresponsibleforassuringthattheApprovedAnimaldoesnotunduly
interferewiththeroutineactivitiesoftheresidencehallcommunityorcausedifficulties
forstudentswhoresidethere.
C. TheOwnerisfinanciallyresponsiblefortheactionsoftheApprovedAnimalincluding
bodilyinjuryorpropertydamage.Theownersresponsibilitycovers,butisnotlimitedto,

replacementoffurniture,carpet,windows,wallcoveringetc.Theownerisexpectedto
coverthesecostsatthetimeofrepairand/ormoveout.
D. TheOwnerisresponsibleforanyexpensesincurredforcleaningaboveandbeyonda
standardcleaningorfortherepairstoUniversitypremisesthatareassessedafterthe
studentandanimalvacatetheresidence.TheUniversityshallhavetherighttobillthe
studentaccountforunmetobligations.
E. TheOwnermustnotifyDisabilityServiceandHousingandResidentialLifeinwritingif
theApprovedAnimalisnolongerneededasanApprovedAnimalorisnolongerin
residence.ToreplaceanApprovedAnimal,theownermustfileanewrequestwith
DisabilityServices.
F. TheOwnerisalsoresponsibleforensuringthecleanupoftheanimalswaste,and,when
appropriate,musttoilettheanimalinareasdesignatedbytheUniversityconsistentwith
thereasonablecapacityoftheOwner.Indooranimalwaste,suchascatlitter,mustbe
placedinasturdyplasticbagandsecurelytiedbeforebeingdisposedofintrash
dumpster.

Guidelines
A. TheOwnersresidencemaybeinspectedforfleas,ticks,orotherpestsasneeded.
Housingwillscheduletheinspection.Iffleas,ticks,orotherpestsaredetectedthrough
inspection,theresidencewillbetreatedusingapprovedfumigationmethodsbya
universityapprovedpestcontrolservice.Theownerwillbebilledfortheexpenseofany
pesttreatmentaboveandbeyondstandardpestmanagementintheresidencehalls.
B. TheOwnermustnotifyroommatesinadvanceofApprovedAnimal.Ifroommateno
longerwantstolivewithananimal,roommateshallcontacthousingtorequestanew
housingassignment.
C. ServiceAnimalsmaytravelfreelywiththeirownerthroughoutUniversityHousing(and
otherareasoftheUniversity).AssistanceAnimalsmustbecontainedwithintheprivately
assignedresidentialarea(room,suite,orapartment)atalltimes,exceptwhen
transportedoutsidetheprivateresidentialareainananimalcarrierorcontrolledbyleash
orharness.
D. TheOwnerisresponsibleforensuringthattheApprovedAnimalhasalllicensesand
vaccinationsthattheanimalneedsincompliancewithlocallaws.TheOwneris
responsibleformaintainingthevaccinationandlicenserecords.
E. TheOwnerisresponsibleforensuringthattheApprovedAnimalhasthetrainingthatit
willneed.
F. ApprovedanimalsmaynotbeleftovernightinUniversityHousingtobecaredforby
anotherstudent.
G. HousingandResidentialLifemayneedtoadjustthehousingassignmentfortheOwner
andApprovedAnimaltofullyaccommodatethestudentinoncampushousing.(eg,to
ensureeasyaccesstobuildingexits,toensurelessbusyhallwaystoreduceanimal
distraction,etc.)TheOwnerpreferenceforhousingwillbeconsideredineachindividual
placement.

H. TheOwneragreestocontinuetoabidebyallotherresidentialpolicies.Reasonable
accommodationwhichmayconstituteanexceptiontotheStudentCodeofCommunity
Conductthatotherwisewouldprohibithavingananimaldoesnotconstituteanexception
toanyotherCommunityLivingStandards.

Anyviolationoftheaboverulesmayresultinimmediateremovalofthestudentfromthe
UniversityandmaybereviewedthroughtheOfficeofAcademicandCommunityConduct.