Emotional Support Animal Policy

Emotional Support Animal Policy‌

Muhlenberg College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and an accessible environment for qualified students with disabilities. The College complies with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Fair Housing Act (FHA).

Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Section 504, individuals with a disability may be entitled to keep an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) as a reasonable accommodation in campus housing facilities that otherwise impose restrictions or have prohibitions on non-service animals in residence. In order for a student with a disability to qualify for such an accommodation, professional documentation of a mental health condition that rises to the level of a disability must be submitted. Documentation must establish the therapeutic need of the animal that is directly connected to the individual’s disability, and must establish that the ESA is necessary to afford the individual with a disability an equal opportunity to use a dwelling or to participate in the housing program. For the complete Emotional Support Animal Policy, see below:

Muhlenberg College 
Office of Disability Services
Emotional Support Animal in Residential Housing Policy 

Muhlenberg College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and an accessible environment for qualified students with disabilities. The College complies with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). 

Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Section 504, individuals with a disability may be entitled to keep an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) as a reasonable accommodation in campus assigned housing facilities that otherwise impose restrictions or have prohibitions on non-service animals in residence.  In order for a student with a disability to qualify for such an accommodation, professional documentation of a mental health condition that rises to the level of a disability must be submitted.  Documentation must establish the need for the therapeutic nature of the animal that is connected to the individual’s disability, and must establish that the ESA is necessary to afford the individual with a disability an equal opportunity to use the assigned dwelling or to participate in the housing program.  

Policy:

Muhlenberg College will consider requests for an Emotional Support Animal as a reasonable accommodation to provide students with disabilities with equal opportunities to use and participate in the campus housing. An approved ESA may reside in Muhlenberg College housing, specific to the student’s residential assignment. Students must receive approval and submit requested documents to have an ESA in residential housing prior to bringing the animal to campus. 

Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis by the Special HousingCommittee, which consists of representatives from the Office of Disability Services, Office of Residential Services, Counseling Services, and Student Health Services. In order for requests to be considered, students must complete all components of the application process listed below. The student must also submit the letters from medical providers, which must document the need for the therapeutic nature of the animal in relation to the student’s disability.  Completion of the application process does not guarantee approval of the proposed ESA.

Application Process:
The student will need to complete the application components listed below in order for the Special Housing Request Committee to review the student’s request. 

The student must complete all components of the application process prior to March 15th or June 15th for the following fall semester, or October 15th for the following spring semester.

• Complete the Disability Determination Process with the Office of Disability Services and be approved as a student with a condition that rises to the level of a disability. The student can access the application and documentation guidelines through Accommodate on OneLogin or the ODS website.  Please note that the determination may take several weeks after the student completes the application, submits medical documents and participates in the interview.  The process includes the following steps:
  • Completion of the Disclosure form and the ESA application on Accommodate
  • Submission of documentation of a condition which rises to the level of a disability
  • Completion of an intake interview 
• Complete an interview with an ODS staff member to discuss the ESA request
• If approved, submit ESA current vaccination records and a picture of the animal

Procedures:
The Committee will consider completed applications once the relevant deadline has passed for new conditions or extraordinary circumstances. Committee decisions will be communicated to the student by email from the Special Housing Committee. 

If an ESA is approved, the student may bring the ESA to campus on the “move in” date set by Housing and Residential Life for the following semester.  A Residential Services staff member will contact the student to discuss the residential life options based on the approved accommodation. Students should be aware that housing options may be limited, as Muhlenberg College balances appropriate accommodations to students with disabilities with needs of other student residents who may have allergies and/or animal fears.  

The student with the approved ESA accommodation will need to complete the Special Housing Request application every year that the student expects to have the ESA in campus residential housing.  The application will be available on Accommodate with deadlines outlined.  

If the student proposes to bring a different ESA than the one that was approved, the student must complete the entire application process again, including providing updated documentation specific to the new proposed ESA.

Student Responsibilities for Approved Emotional Support Animals:
The student is required to ensure the animal is well cared for at all times. Any suspected or observed issues related to animal abuse or neglect will be reported to the proper authorities and may subject the student to Muhlenberg College disciplinary action. ​ Any evidence of mistreatment or abuse may result in immediate removal of the ESA.

The College retains the right to remove the animal, at the owner’s expense, should the animal become a direct threat to the health and safety of others or if a violation occurs from the requirements listed below:

• The student must consult the local and state ordinances and laws and comply with any laws pertaining to animal licensing, vaccination and owner identification outlined by the City of Allentown Animal Control. 
• The student must provide a copy of the ESA’s current vaccination records and a photo to the Office of Disability Services. 
• The cost of care, arrangements and responsibilities for the well-being of the animal are the sole responsibility of the student at all times.
• The ESA is an accommodation for the student in the assigned residential placement and is not allowed in other areas of the residential space or in other buildings (academic or non-academic) on campus.
• The ESA is an accommodation specific to the student requesting the accommodation. Roommates or friends are not responsible for the care of the ESA and are not considered the handler.
• The student is responsible for designating an alternative caregiver for the animal if the event student (handler) becomes ill or an emergency occurs.  The name and contact information must be kept updated with the Office of Disability Services.
• The ESA must be maintained and in good health, kept clean, free from fleas or ticks, free of illness, and crated when left in the residential room alone.
• To the extent possible, the ESA should be unobtrusive to other students within residential living.
• The student must be in full control of the ESA at all times.  ESAs may not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of persons on the college campus, cause physical damage to property, or fundamentally alter the nature of the College operations.  
• The student, not Muhlenberg College, is responsible for any damage or injuries to self or others caused by the ESA and must take appropriate precautions to prevent property damage or injury. 
• The College retains the right to designate a particular area for the ESA to relieve itself and/or for the disposal of its waste. 
• The communal bathrooms are not to be used for bathing ESAs. 
• The student is expected to fulfill the housing obligations for the remainder of the housing contract in the event that the ESA is removed from the premises.