Emotional Support Animal Policy

Return to: General Policies  
 

Emotional Support Animal Policy

It is the policy of Goldey-Beacom College (“GBC” or the College) to provide safe, healthy housing to all students living in the College’s residence halls and to provide equal access to on-campus housing to all students with qualifying disabilities.  In keeping with this obligation, an emotional support animal is permitted in all residence halls in accordance with College procedures and policies. 

This policy includes the procedures for requesting an emotional support animal and the responsibilities of students who have emotional support animals in GBC residence halls. 

Definitions

Emotional Support Animal (ESA): An animal providing emotional or other support to ameliorate one or more identified symptoms or effects of a disability.  Emotional support animals are not required to be trained to perform work or tasks.  Animals that are not domesticated or are venomous are absolutely prohibited.  ESAs may not be brought into residential communities without prior approval from Goldey-Beacom College.  Each request will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as outlined in this policy, considering the individual request and the rules of the College Community.  An approved emotional support animal is not subject to the College’s Pet Policy. 

Approved ESA: An approved Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is an animal that has been permitted in designated areas of residential communities as a reasonable accommodation under this policy. 

ESA Owner:  The owner is the on-campus resident student who has an approved emotional support animal in GBC housing under this policy. 

Goldey-Beacom College Residence Halls: Any facility owned or operated by the College for the purpose of housing residential students, whether leased or owned by GBC. 

Pet: A pet is an animal kept for ordinary use and companionship.  Individuals are not permitted to keep or bring pets on GBC property or in the residence halls according to the College’s Pet Policy . The Pet Policy does not apply to approved emotional support animals.  Service animals are not considered pets.  

Conflicting Health Conditions and Aversions

A GBC student with a medical condition or aversion (e.g. allergies, asthma, respiratory conditions, zoophobia, etc.) and who is affected by living in close proximity to an emotional support animal should contact the College’s Office of Residence Life staff.  The College will reasonably accommodate resident(s) with disabilities who need accommodation when living in close proximity to emotional support animal(s) as may be required by applicable law.

Documentation Guidelines

 Documentation is required for any type of requested accommodation. Documentation for housing accommodations or an emotional support animal must be from a qualified professional. A “qualified professional,” for GBC purposes, is defined as a non-family member whose professional training qualifies the professional to diagnose and treat the impairments associated with the student’s disability. The student must either be a current patient of the professional who completes the documents or has an established history of treatment that is documented.  Each question on the required forms must be completed by the qualified professional. GBC does not accept notes or letters in lieu of the required documents. Decisions regarding ESAs may take up to 14 business days after documentation from a qualified professional has been received by the College.  Incomplete or illegible documentation may delay the decision while the College contacts the provider for more information.

Instructions for Requesting an Emotional Support Animal Accommodation

1. A student requesting an emotional support animal accommodation must complete and submit the Academic Adjustment/Accommodations Request Form.  The form can be obtained from an Advisor located in the Financial Aid/Advisement Office.  By completing and submitting this form, the student is requesting a housing accommodation.
2. A student must submit written documentation from a qualified professional to accompany the Academic Adjustment/Accommodations Form.  The completed form and professional documentation should be uploaded using the Campus Web Document Submission portal on the Academics tab.  Alternatively, it may be provided in an envelope directly to an Advisor. 
3. Additionally, an emotional support animal’s health documentation must be submitted if the student is requesting an ESA to live in GBC residence halls. The student must provide to an Advisor written documentation from a professional veterinarian that the ESA is current on all applicable vaccinations, including rabies, and is in good health.  This document is to be submitted to the College with the Academic Adjustment/Accommodations Form.
4. Rules and Responsibilities of Emotional Support Animal Owner Agreement   must be signed prior to the student bringing the approved ESA to campus.  The form can be obtained from an Advisor located in the Financial Aid/Advisement Office.  
5. Once the College receives the required documentation, it will issue a decision regarding the requested ESA.  The student requesting the ESA will be notified if the ESA is approved or if the College needs additional information regarding the request.  

Denial of a Request for an Emotional Support Animal​

GBC is not required to provide accommodations that would pose a direct threat to the health and safety of other members of the College Community.  Thus, if a particular animal requested by a student with a disability has a history of dangerous behavior or an unsafe disposition, the College will deny the request for an emotional support animal.  The College will also deny a request that would: (1) result in substantial physical damage to the property of others unless the threat can be eliminated or significantly reduced by a reasonable accommodation; (2) pose an undue financial and administrative burden on the College; or (3) fundamentally alter the nature of the College’s Student Life operations.  If the student’s request for an emotional support animal is denied, the student who made the request can contact an Advisor for further clarification of the decision.