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Service and Assistance Animals - University Expectations

Purpose

Delaware State University is committed to providing equal educational and employment access to individuals with disabilities, including the appropriate use of a Service or Assistance Animal to participate fully in all programs and activities.

Regarding Service Animals

Individuals with disabilities are permitted to be accompanied by their Service animals on all Delaware State University campuses where members of the public, participants in services, programs or activities, or invitees, as relevant, are allowed to go. This includes but is not limited to: University buildings, classrooms, residence halls, meeting rooms, dining areas, recreational centers and facilities, activities and events when the Service animal is accompanied by an individuals with a disability who indicates the Service animal is trained to provide, and does provide, a specific service for them that is directly related to their disability.

While a brief online training is required for an individual approved by the CDR to have an Assistance Animal on camps as an Accommodation, this training can be made available but is not automatically required for an individual to have a Service Animal on campus. No accommodation is needed to have a Service Animal on campus.

Additional information regarding the use of Service Animals on campus is available from the Center for Disability Resources (CDR). The CDR can be reached at 302.857.7042 or via email at cdr [at] desu.edu.

Service Animals living in University Housing must comply with all applicable Delaware dog laws. Information related to licensing, ID tags, vaccinations, rabies and other requirements under Delaware Dog Law can be found at: http://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/oaw/animallawsandregs.html

Regarding Assistance Animals

Individuals with disabilities are not permitted to be accompanied by Assistance Animals while on campus. The only exception is the allowance of an Assistance Animal in an On-Campus Housing Residence Hall or other campus location(s) if the presence of that animal has been determined to be a reasonable accommodation by Center for Disability Resources (CDR) and is listed on an individual’s Accommodation Letter.

Upon the CDR’s contingent approval of an Assistance Animal accommodation, the student will be provided a link for and is responsible for completing a brief online video training about the rights and responsibilities of any person with an approved Assistance Animal on campus. The student will be issued their new or updated Accommodation Letter via email within one business day after successfully completing the online training.  At that time, the CDR will also send a copy of the Accommodation Letter to University Housing as verification.

It is important to note that an accommodation for an Assistance Animal is not valid until the student has passed the training and received a current, semester-specific Accommodation Letter listing their Assistance Animal as an approved accommodation.  Each student has an unlimited number of tries to pass the training, the training is untimed, and is fully accessible. Any student who has not successfully completed the brief online training is not permitted to have their Assistance Animal on the premises.

Failure to comply will any of the rules and regulations within the Service and Assistance Animal University Expectations document will result in significant consequences up to and including judicial charges, removal of the animal, and the loss of on-campus housing.

Additional information regarding the use of Assistance Animals on campus is available from Center for Disability Resources (CDR). The CDR can be reached at 302.857.7042 or via email at cdr [at] desu.edu.

Assistance Animals that are dogs living in University Housing must comply with all applicable Delaware dog laws. Information related to licensing, ID tags, vaccinations, rabies and other requirements under Delaware Dog Law can be found at: http://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/oaw/animallawsandregs.html

Definitions:

Service Animal

A “Service Animal” is a dog that has been trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability and meets the definition of “Service Animal” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations at 28 CFR 35.104. In some cases, a miniature horse may be permitted as a Service Animal under the ADA regulations at 28 CFR 35.136(i). Other animals, whether wild or domestic, do not qualify as Service Animals.

Examples of such work or tasks which may be performed by a Service animal include but are not limited to: guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf or hard of hearing, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual who is having a seizure, providing physical support and assistance with balance/stability for individuals with mobility impairments, providing non- violent protection or rescue work, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties.

Service Animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a Service Animal has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. A dog whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support does not qualify as a Service Animal.

Assistance Animal

An “Assistance Animal” is one that is necessary to afford a person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy University housing. An Assistance animal may provide physical assistance, emotional support, calming, stability and other kinds of assistance. Assistance Animals do not perform work or tasks that would qualify them as “Service animals” under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Assistance animals that are not Service animals under the ADA may still be permitted, in certain circumstances, in University Housing pursuant to the Fair Housing Act and as a reasonable accommodation determined by the Center for Disability Resources (CDR). Presence of an Assistance Animal in any other setting on campus would generally be prohibited unless specifically stated in the student’s Accommodation Letter from the CDR.

An Assistance Animal may be any type of animal as long as the animal does not pose a direct threat to health and safety. These animals may also be referred to as Emotional Support Animals (ESA) or Therapy Animals.

Handler

The “Handler” is the student, employee, or other visitor with a disability that a Service Animal or Assistance Animal assists or their personal care attendant who handles the animal for the person with a disability.

Pet

A “Pet” is an animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. A pet is not considered a Service Animal or an Assistance Animal. It is not covered by this policy. Residents are not permitted to keep pets, other than those permitted by University Housing, on university property or in university housing in accordance to the Student Code of Conduct.

Instances When a Service Animal May Not Be Permitted

A Service animal may not be permitted in a certain area if the University determines that permitting the Service animal poses a health or safety concern, the Service animal is not housebroken or cannot be effectively controlled by the handler. The accompaniment of an individual with a disability by a Service animal in locations with health and safety restrictions, or when the animal is suspected of being uncontrolled or not housebroken, will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Center for Disability Resources (CDR) in consultation with DSU Police as it relates to overall campus safety. CDR will make the final determination.

If the University determines that a Service animal must be excluded, the individual with a disability will be provided the opportunity to participate in the service, program or activity without having the Service animal on the premises and to request alternative, reasonable accommodations through the Center for Disability Resources.

Instances When an Assistance Animal May Not Be Permitted

Assistance Animals may not be permitted in the student’s Residence Hall if the University determines that the Assistance animal is not housebroken or cannot be effectively controlled by the handler. In the event that an Assistance animal is suspected of being uncontrolled or not housebroken, Center for Disability Resources (CDR) will review this on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Office of Housing and Residential Education and Delaware State University Police as it relates to overall campus safety. The CDR will make the final determination.

If the University determines that an Assistance animal must be excluded from the Residence Hall, the individual with a disability will be provided the opportunity to participate in on-campus housing without having the Assistance Animal on the premises and to request alternative, reasonable accommodations through the Center for Disability Resources.

Responsibility of Handlers

All handlers are expected to abide by the following:

An approved Assistance Animal is only permitted in the student’s Residence Hall as an approved accommodation from the CDR and is not permitted in any other areas except as required for transportation off-campus or to eliminate waste. Assistance Animals are not permitted to accompany their handler to any other location(s) on campus where animals are not permitted.

  • An approved Assistance Animal is only permitted in the student’s Residence Hall as an approved accommodation from the CDR and is not permitted in any other areas except as required for transportation off-campus or to eliminate waste. Assistance Animals are not permitted to accompany their handler to any other location(s) on campus where animals are not permitted.
  • Service Animals shall be under the control of their handler at all times. Assistance Animals shall be under the control of their handler at all times while the handler is present in the residence hall. Service and Assistance Animals must have a harness, leash or other tether, unless either the individual is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash or other tether would interfere with the Service Animal’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks or the Assistance Animal’s safe, effective provision of assistance in which case the animal must be otherwise under the handler’s control (e.g., voice control, signals or other effective means).
  • Service or Assistance Animals may not be left overnight in University Housing (without its handler) to be cared for by another student. Animals must be taken with the student if they leave for a prolonged period of time.
  • When the Assistance Animal’s handler must leave the residence hall, it is the responsibility of the handler to ensure that the Assistance Animal is appropriately contained within the room and not able to leave the dorm room. In order to restrain the animal it is appropriate to use a cage, carrier, crate or other method for this purpose.
  • Other students and/or University Personnel are not responsible for the care or supervision of a Service or Assistance Animal.
  • Cleaning up after the Service or Assistance Animal is the sole responsibility of the handler. The person cleaning up after the Service animal should: carry sufficient materials to clean up the animal’s feces whenever the animal is on campus; properly dispose of any waste/litter; contact University Facilities at 302.857.6230 or file an online Maintenance Request if arrangements must be made to assist with clean-up. Any cost incurred by University Facilities for cleaning up after the Service animal is the sole responsibility of the handler. The cleanliness and care of the Service animal is the sole responsibility of its handler.
  • The University shall not charge a surcharge for the Service or Assistance Animal, even if people accompanied by pets are required to pay fees. If the University normally charges individuals for damages caused by a pet, an individual with a disability may also be charged for damage caused by the Service or Assistance animal. The University will give priority consideration to the specific methods requested by a student, but cannot guarantee that a particular accommodation will be granted if the University determines it is not reasonable or that other suitable methods are available.

Failure to meet any of the above expectations will result in the removal of the Service or Assistance Animal.

Acceptable inquiries of a person using a service animal

Federal law does not require the individual to provide documentation that the animal has been certified, trained or licensed as a Service Animal. In making a decision whether to permit accompaniment of a Service Animal, the University shall not ask about the nature or extent of a person’s disability. The University may, however, ask the following two questions when the status of the dog or miniature horse as a Service Animal is not readily apparent:

  • A. Is the dog a Service Animal required because of a disability?
    • This is a “yes” or “no” question.
    • If the answer to Question A is “yes”, proceed by asking Question B.
    • If the answer to Question A is “no” the animal would not be considered a Service Animal and would not be allowed on campus where animals are generally not permitted unless there is a specific accommodation to the contrary on the student’s Accommodation Letter.
  • B. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

Specific questions related to the use of Service Animals at Delaware State University can be directed to the Center for Disability Resources (CDR) via email to cdr [at] desu.edu or by phone at 302.857.7042.

Appeals process

Any person at Delaware State University dissatisfied with a decision regarding a Service or Assistance Animal may appeal through the Director of the Center for Disability Resources within thirty (30) calendar days of the decision, unless extensions for a good cause are provided. A formal Letter of Appeal should be submitted to the Director containing the following:

  • Name and University ID number of appellant
  • Basis for the appeal
  • The remedy or relief sought
  • Any supporting information

Upon receipt of the Letter of Appeal, the Director of the CDR will review the appeal, make a determination, and notify the student of the determination in writing within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the appeal. In the event that the Director made the initial accommodation decision, the Letter of Appeal should be sent to the University’s Chief Enterprise Risk Officer and General Counsel.

Questions regarding Service and/or Assistance Animals

The Center for Disability Resources
Delaware State University
1200 N. DuPont Highway
Dover, DE 19901

Phone: 302.857.7042
Email: cdr [at] desu.edu

Delaware State University reserves the right to amend this document, as circumstances require.