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Service and Assistance Animal Policy

Wheaton College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and to making reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, or procedures as required by law to afford people with disabilities an equal opportunity to access programs, services and activities. The Learning and Accessibility Services (LAS) Office is responsible for the approval of Service and Assistance Animals.

I. Definitions

Service Animal

Service Animals are animals that are trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities. Examples of such tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs for those with limited mobility, and alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure. Animals other than dogs or, in some cases, miniature horses, are not Service Animals. The work or task that a Service Animal has been trained to provide is directly related to the person’s disability.

Emotional Support Animal (ESA)

Emotional Support Animals are animals that provide emotional or other support that decreases one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s mental health disability. Unlike Service Animals, an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is not required to be trained to perform work or tasks, nor does it accompany a person with a disability at all times.

Pet

A pet is an animal kept for ordinary use or companionship. Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals, as defined above, are not considered pets. Pets are prohibited indoors and in university housing with the exception of aquatic species that live under water in standard size aquariums. For more information, please refer to the Animals/Pets in Campus Housing policy in the Student Handbook.

Approved Animal

An Approved Animal is a Service Animal or an Emotional Support Animal that has been approved by LAS as a reasonable accommodation under this Policy.

Owner

An Owner is an individual with a disability who has requested an accommodation and has received approval to bring the approved animal on college property.

II. Access to Campus for Service Animals

Service Animals are permitted in all public areas of campus, but may be prohibited in certain locations due to health and safety restrictions (e.g., where the animal may be in danger, or where its use may compromise research).

An individual is allowed to have a service animal on campus if:

  1. S/He has a  disability as defined by the ADA
  2. The accompanying animal is trained to do work or specific tasks for the individual.

Owners are not required to provide certification that the animal has been trained/licensed or make a formal request for an accommodation.

Restricted areas may include, but are not limited to custodial closets, boiler rooms, facility equipment rooms, research laboratories, classrooms with research/demonstration animals, areas where protective clothing is necessary, wood and metal shops, rooms with heavy machinery, and areas outlined in state law as being inaccessible to animals.

Service Animals may be granted access to restricted areas on a case-by-case basis by gaining approval from LAS and the appropriate department representative.

III. Access to campus for Emotional Support Animals

Emotional Support Animals are only permitted in and around the owner’s campus housing as set forth below. Unlike Service Animals, ESAs are not allowed to accompany persons with disabilities in all public areas of Wheaton campus. Owners may request approval from the LAS Office to have the ESA accompany them to other campus areas. Such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis consistent with applicable laws.

IV. Service and Emotional Support Animals in Campus Housing

Before a Service Animal or ESA can move into campus housing, a request must be submitted to the LAS Office and approval must be granted (Requests should be made at least 30 days prior to move-in whenever possible as late requests may impact the timeliness of the approval process). As provided in the Animals/Pets in Campus Housing Policy, the fine for an unauthorized animal in campus housing is $50 per day.

LAS Office may require documentation from a licensed physician or mental health provider (must be a non-family member) including but not limited to a qualified psychiatrist, social worker or other mental health professional, to provide sufficient information for Wheaton to determine:

V. Emotional Support Animal Approval Process

Student requests for Service and Assistance Animals must be made to the Director of LAS by sending an e-mail to las@wheaton.edu or calling 630.752.5615. Documentation may be requested as outlined in this Policy.

A staff member in the LAS Office may speak directly with roommates or students in neighboring rooms prior to the approval of a Service or Assistance Animal to determine if allergies, phobias, or other health concerns are present. No information regarding the diagnosis or nature of the disability will be shared. If approval is granted, the LAS Office may speak directly with the roommates or students in neighboring rooms to ensure the arrangement is effective and not disruptive to the living and learning experiences of others.

VI. Care and Control

The following guidelines for Service and Assistance Animals are intended to ensure that the animal does not engage in behavior that would be disruptive or a direct threat to the health and safety of others.

Guidelines for Service and Emotional Support Animals on campus:

VII. Conflicting or Competing Accommodations

If another student, staff, or faculty member has a severe allergy around animal dander or a phobia to the type of animal being approved, attempts will be made to accommodate the needs of both individuals to the fullest extent possible.

VIII. Responsibilities of the Campus Community

IX. Appeal Process

If an individual believes that a request for a reasonable accommodation related to the use of a Service Animal or an ESA on campus has been wrongfully denied, the individual can refer to the LAS Grievance Policy for procedures to appeal the decision.