Service Animal Policies
Service Animal Policies and Procedures for Students
Definitions
A. A Service Animal is an animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. These tasks include but are not limited to the following: guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are hearing impaired, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, 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.
The term Service Animal does not include any untrained dog or any other species of animal, whether trained or untrained. Animals that provide assistance or emotional support, but that are not trained to do work or perform tasks for individuals with disabilities, do not meet the definition of a Service Animal.
B. A Service Animal in Training is an animal that is in process of being trained to support a person with a disability. Generally training for disability-related work does not begin until the dog is 9-12 months old. Prior to that time, potential service dogs are raised to behave in public and to be around people and situations. Rules regarding Service Animals in Training are established under state law and will vary across campuses for Asbury Theological Seminary.
C. A Handler is the individual with a disability using a Service Animal on the Seminary campus.
D. A pet is a domestic or tamed animal kept for companionship or pleasure. A pet is not
considered a Service Animal or an ESA, and therefore, it is not covered by these guidelines. Pets are not permitted in Seminary residence halls, apartments, or any other Seminary buildings, except for selected, approved student housing locations. Visiting pets or temporary pets are not allowed in residential units at any time.
The Disability Resource Center and Service Animals on Campus
A. Asbury Theological Seminary supports the use of Service Animals in approved locations on each campus in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504).
B. Nonresidential students who utilize a Service Animal are encouraged to contact the Disability Resource Center for guidance and information concerning accommodations and resources available at Asbury Theological Seminary.
C. Service Animals are welcomed on each campus in any unrestricted location.
D. If a disability is not readily apparent, and it is not obvious what task the animal is providing, Seminary personnel may ask the Handler of an animal two questions:
- Is the dog a Service Animal required because of a disability?
- What disability-related work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
E. Seminary personnel may not ask about the nature or extent of a person’s disability and may not require documentary proof of certification or licensing as a Service Animal to demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.
F. For residential students who utilize a Service Animal, or if a family member of a residential student utilizes a Service Animal, the student notifies Residence Life of the need for a Service Animal in Seminary housing by making notification of the presence of the animal on the Service Animal Notification Form.
G. This form is completed at the same time that the student completes the respective Application for Housing.
H. The notification should be made at least thirty (30) days prior to the move-in date. The Seminary cannot assure that the housing preference can be met if the notification is made with less than 30 days’ notice. Given housing limitations, the Seminary’s ability to process the housing application may be significantly decreased when the form is not submitted in a timely fashion (including when the need for a Service Animal develops
after the deadline).
I. In the event that an individual makes notification of the presence of a Service Animal without meeting this time frame and one or more current roommates/suitemates are not in approval of the arrangement, Residence Life will make every effort to find another location for the individual to reside with the Service Animal.
J. In the Service Animal Notification Form the student will supply the name of an emergency contact who would assume responsibility of a Service Animal in the event the animal must be removed from campus for any reason. The surrogate individual is someone who does not in reside on Seminary property.
K. Roommates or suitemates of students who maintain a Service Animal will submit the Roommate/Suitemate Agreement: Service or Support Animals.
Guidelines and Requirements
A. The Seminary may prohibit the use of Service Animals in certain locations on campuses (restricted areas) due to health or safety restrictions (such as food preparation areas).
B. All animals except Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals that are brought to campus must be leashed and are restricted to outdoor public areas. Approved pets are restricted to designated housing locations. This policy applies to all students, employees, and all campus visitors.
C. Under no circumstances are Service Animals allowed to be unsupervised on Seminary property.
D. Visitors to campus using Service Animals may use all facilities with the exception of any restricted areas.
E. Service Animals in residence must meet acceptable standards behavior (that is, they do not create unreasonable disruptions for other residents). Failure to maintain appropriate behavior may be grounds for the service animal being barred from the residential setting.
F. The Handler is responsible for ensuring that all veterinarian-recommended vaccinations are completed and documented. Proof of Rabies vaccination must be provided to Residence Life and Housing before moving the Service Animal into the residence. The Seminary reserves the right to request an updated verification at any time during the Service Animal’s residency.
G. Students with a Service Animal must adhere to all state, local and municipal statutes, codes and guidelines regarding Service Animal care, vaccination, licensure, leash control, and cleanup rules.
H. All Service Animals must be housebroken.
I. The student’s residence may be inspected for fleas, ticks or other pests as needed by the Seminary. Residence Life and housing staff will schedule the inspection if needed. If fleas, ticks or other pests are detected through inspection, the residence will be treated using approved fumigation methods by a Seminary-approved pest control service. Students will be billed for the expense of any pest treatment. If the problem reoccurs,
the student may not be permitted to keep his/her Service Animal on campus.
J. The Handler is financially responsible for the actions of the Service Animal and for all claims involving bodily injury or property damage. This includes, but is not limited to any replacement of furniture, carpet, window or wall covering as well as cleaning costs considered above the normal cleaning provided for rooms.
K. The Handler must notify Residence Life and the Disability Resource Center in writing if the Service Animal is no longer needed as a Service Animal or is no longer in residence. To replace one Service Animal with a different Service Animal, the student must file the appropriate documents.
L. No Service Animal may exhibit any aggressive behavior towards humans or other animals, as determined by the Student Services staff on a case-by-case basis. Uncontrolled aggression will require removal of the animal by the owner.
M. Physical Plant staff will not enter a room to make repairs or spray for insects if a Service Animal is inside. Handlers should call the Physical Plant at Ext. 2298 to arrange for any maintenance service.
N. Handler negligence or mistreatment of an animal will not be tolerated. The Handler may be subject to disciplinary action, including the removal of the animal from campus.
O. If the Service Animal must be removed from the premises for any reason, the student is expected to fulfill her/his housing obligations for the remainder of the housing contract.
P. In the event that a request to remove the animal is made, the request must be fulfilled within 7 calendar days.
Q. Residence Life has the authority to relocate a student and the Service Animal as necessary per current contractual agreements.
R. Service Animal Handlers are responsible for any damage to Seminary property that their animal may cause.
S. Any violation of the above rules may result in immediate removal of the Service Animal from the Seminary campus. If this occurs, the student has a right to appeal the decision through the Disability Resource Center.
T. Failure to comply with these policies and/or related requests of the Student Services staff may result in a fine, disciplinary action, or additional action deemed necessary by the Seminary.
Service Animal Care
Students who have a Service Animal on the Seminary campus must abide by the following guidelines:
A. Maintain control of the Service Animal by leash, harness or tether, voice control, signals, or other effective means. The Service Animal must be in the immediate vicinity of the Handler at all times.
B. Ensure the Service Animal is well cared for at all times, including responsibility for proper feeding, grooming, veterinary care, treating for fleas and ticks, and cleaning up the animal’s waste.
C. Properly contain all Service Animal feces by placing the waste in a disposable/plastic bag and disposing it in an appropriate outdoor waste receptacle.
D. Refrain from bathing the Service Animal in Seminary bathrooms or kitchens.
E. Ensure the Service Animal is removed from the residence, and not left unattended over any breaks.
F. Ensure the Service Animal wears a vet issued rabies tag where applicable.
G. Provide contact information for care of a Service Animal in the event the owner has a medical emergency and is unable to attend to the Service Animal.
H. Inhibit all aggressive behavior towards humans or other animals, as determined by the Student Services Staff on a case-by-case basis.
I. Ensure the Service Animal does not cause undue disruption to Seminary operations. Undue disruption may include, but is not limited to, excessive noise, physical harm to humans or other animals, and destruction of property. The Student Services Staff reserves the right to deem any other act an undue disruption.
Issues with Service Animals
A. Students and employees with medical condition(s) that are affected by animals (such as respiratory diseases, asthma, or severe allergies) should contact the Student Services staff if they have a health or safety-related concern about exposure to Service Animals. Such students and employees will be asked to provide medical documentation that confirms there is a condition(s) and identifies recommended accommodations. The Student Services staff will resolve any conflict in a timely manner, considering the conflicting needs and/or accommodations of all persons involved.
B. The Seminary maintains a sensitivity to residents with allergies and to those who fear Service Animals in that it is important to ensure the peace of the residential community. Disability Resource Center personnel and Residence Life personnel will work with students in situations where an accommodation for a Service Animal negatively impacts another student covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Housing relocation maybe utilized to resolve such conflicts. The student is responsible for instructing others on appropriate interactions with the Service Animal and setting clear expectations.
C. Students, faculty, and staff are discouraged from approaching, distracting, or engaging Service Animals.
D. The Seminary may notify other students about a Service Animal’s presence in their room, hall, and/or apartment without disclosure of the Handler’s disability, and/or may require the Handler to use signage notifying others of the animal’s presence in the apartment or room.