Emotional Support and Service
Animals in University Housing
Jennifer Cobb, Director, Enterprise Risk Management
Jonathan Lucia, Director of Residence Life
Joy Norman, Director of Disability Services
Definitions
• Pets-animals living with owners for purposes
of love, affection, and company
• Service Animals-animal individually trained to
perform specific task or function related to
physical, intellectual, or mental disability
• Emotional Support Animals-provide
therapeutic benefit to person with mental or
psychiatric disability
Definitions
Service Animal
Emotional Support Animal
Federal Law
ADA, Titles II &III
Fair Housing Act
Type of Animal
Dogs & Miniature Horses *
No Restrictions*
Applies To
All Facilities
Housing Only
Required Training
Specific Training Required
No Training Required
Required
Documentation
No documentation required (two
question rule)
Letter from health
professional
Enforcement
Department of Justice
HUD
*Request may be denied if:
Animal poses health/safety threat
Property Damage is inevitable
Poses undue financial/administrative burden
Alters nature of housing operations
What Has Changed?
• Guidance from HUD (April 25, 2013)
– FHA applies to University owned housing
• University of Nebraska Kearney Case
– FHA applies to University owned housing
– U.S. District Court of Nebraska
– Partial summary judgment against U. of Nebraska
– Will likely be appealed to U.S. Court of Appeals 8th
Circuit
Documentation
• Service Animals (two question rule)
– Is the animal required because of a disability
– What work or tasks has the animal been trained to
do?
• Emotional Support Animal
– Letter from health professional
– Identify how animal alleviates or reduces
symptoms of mental/psychiatric illness
Emotional Support Animal
Benchmarking
• Discussed at system wide disability services,
housing, and student affairs meetings
• No specific guidance issued from BOR
• Young Harris College and Georgia College have
accommodated emotional comfort animals
• Incoming student inquired at last orientation
CSU Policy
• Policy based on review of multiple policies at
institutions across the country
• Student makes request through Disability
Services Office
• Approved student meets with Director of
Residence Life to review standards
• Vaccination and registration records housed in
Residence Life office
Questions