Disability Services

The information below details the procedures for the use of service animals by students and employees on the St. Thomas Aquinas College campus. St. Thomas Aquinas College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in allowing use of service animals for students, staff, and visitors.

DEFINITION

Service Animal: “A service animal as per the ADA is defined as “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.”

QUALIFYING TO HAVE A SERVICE ANIMAL ON CAMPUS

For an individual qualifying to have a service animal on campus:

• The student must have a disability as defined by the ADA.
• The animal must be trained to perform specific tasks or work for the qualified individual.
• The tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability.
• Students must register with Disability Services, if the service animal will be housed on campus so that housing accommodations can be coordinated.
• The student must contact Disability Services as early as possible to allow time to gather and review all required documentation.

<h2RESPONSIBILITIES/REQUIREMENTS

Owner:

• Is responsible for attending to and being in full control of the service animal at all times.  A service animal shall have a harness, leash, or other tether unless a) the owner is unable, because of a disability, to use a harness, leash, or tether, or b) using a harness, leash, or tether will interfere with the animal’s ability to safely and effectively perform its work, in which case the animal must be under the handler’s control (e.g. voice control, signals, or other commands).
• Is responsible for ensuring that the service animal is wearing a leash or harness that identifies the animal as a service animal when on duty anywhere on campus.
• Is responsible for ensuring that the service animal is fully trained to perform the work or task required.
• Is responsible for the costs of care necessary for the service animal’s well-being.  The arrangements and responsibilities with the care of a service animal is the sole responsibility of the owner at all times, including regular bathing and grooming.
• Is responsible for independently removing or arranging for the removal of the service animal’s waste.  Waste must be disposed of in a sealed bag in the designated trash receptacle as determined by the Housing Office.
• Is responsible for complying with local and state licensing laws for animal rights and owner responsibilities. Service animals should be current with immunizations and wear a rabies vaccination tag.
• Is responsible for paying for any damage to College property caused by the animal.
• Anytime the owner leaves campus overnight and/or during College breaks, the animal must leave, as well.

College Community:

The proper way to determine that an animal is a service animal is to ask the owner if the animal is required because of a disability. If the animal is required due to a disability, only two questions can be asked:

• Is the service animal required because of a disability?
• What work or task is the animal trained to perform?

The College community:

• Must allow service animals to accompany their owners at all times and everywhere on campus where the general public or other students are allowed, except for places where there is a health, environmental, or safety hazard.
• Must not ask questions about the individual’s disability.
• Should not pet or feed a service animal.
• Should not tease a service animal or attempt to separate it from its owner.
• Must not charge a fee for the service animal to reside in a residence hall, but may charge fees for damages incurred by the service animal.
• Should report service animals who misbehave or owners (or other individuals) who mistreat their service animals to Campus Safety.

An individual with a disability cannot be asked to remove their service animal from the campus unless:

• The animal is out of control and the owner does not take effective action to control it.
• The animal is not housebroken.
• The animal poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others.
• The animal’s presence creates a fundamental alteration of the college’s programs, as defined by the ADA.
• Any other qualifying reason under the ADA.

St. Thomas Aquinas College:

The College may prohibit the use of service animals in certain locations due to health and safety restrictions or places where the animal might be in danger. Restricted areas may include but are not limited to food preparation areas, research laboratories, boiler rooms, and other areas prohibited by law.

Disability Services:

• Assists owners and the College community when questions or concerns arise relating to Service animals on campus, seeking legal advice when necessary.
• Is responsible for developing the procedures for the College and facilitating the use of Service animals by individuals on campus.

Students who intend to bring a service animal to campus should contact Anne Schlinck, Director,  Disability Services at aschlinc@stac.edu as soon as possible. Disability Services is located in Spellman Hall, Room 109.

Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Policy

I. Purpose

St. Thomas Aquinas College maintains a general prohibition on animals in College owned housing. The College will consider requests from residents with a documented disability for a reasonable housing accommodation that permits the presence of an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) in College housing.

This accommodation process is intended to provide qualified residents an equal opportunity to use and benefit from College housing. This policy applies only to Emotional Support Animals approved for residence in College housing. It does not apply to Service Animals, which are governed by the College Service Animal Policy.

The College reserves the right to amend this policy as circumstances, legal requirements, or College needs require.

II. Definition of an Emotional Support Animal

An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is an animal whose presence mitigates the effects of a mental health disability. Unlike a Service Animal, an ESA is not required to be individually trained to perform specific tasks. The therapeutic benefit of an ESA results from its presence and interaction with the resident.

ESAs are not pets. They are approved as disability-related housing accommodations when supported by appropriate documentation and approved through the College’s accommodation process.

III. Scope of Approval and Limitations

Approval of an ESA is a housing accommodation only.

An approved ESA may reside only within the resident’s assigned housing space and designated relief areas. An ESA is not permitted in common areas, classrooms, dining facilities, libraries, laboratories, recreational facilities, administrative buildings, or other campus locations unless separately authorized through an approved accommodation process.

IV. Request and Approval Process

Residents seeking approval for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) as a housing accommodation must complete the following process:

A. Initiate the Request

The resident must submit a Request for Emotional Support Animal Accommodation form. Residents are strongly encouraged to review this policy in its entirety before submitting a request.

B. Submit Supporting Documentation

The resident’s treating healthcare or mental health provider must complete the College’s Healthcare Provider Information form.

Documentation must establish:

• That the resident has a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities;
• The functional limitations associated with the disability;
• The disability-related need for an ESA;
• The relationship between the resident’s disability and the therapeutic benefit provided by the ESA; and
• Why the presence of the ESA is necessary for the resident to have equal access to and benefit from campus housing.

The resident is required to engage in an interactive process with the Office of Disability & Access Services and additional information or clarification may be requested as part of the interactive review process.

C. Submit Animal Health Documentation

• The resident must provide the Office of Disability & Access Services with a copy of the animal’s current vaccination and veterinary health records.
• Dogs, cats, and other animals for which vaccinations are recommended or required must be current on all applicable vaccinations, including rabies when required by law.
• The College reserves the right to require updated veterinary records at any time while the animal resides in campus housing.

D. Submit Licensing Documentation

If the animal is required to be licensed under New York State or local law, proof of current licensing must be submitted to the Office of Disability & Access Services prior to approval.

E. Roommate and Housing Review

• As part of the review process, the Office of Disability & Access Services and/or Residence Life may communicate with roommates, suitemates, or other impacted residents to identify potential concerns, including but not limited to allergies, medical conditions, animal phobias, or other housing related conflicts.
• The College will attempt to reasonably address such concerns but cannot guarantee a particular housing assignment.

F. Timeline for Requests

• Residents are encouraged to submit requests at least sixty (60) days prior to the anticipated arrival of the animal on campus.
• Requests submitted fewer than sixty (60) days before move in, or after occupancy has begun, will still be reviewed; however, the College cannot guarantee that accommodations can be implemented during the current semester or housing assignment period.

G. Two-Step Approval Process

ESA requests are reviewed through a two-step process:

1. Determination that the resident has established a disability-related need for an ESA as a housing accommodation; and
2. Determination that the specific animal proposed is appropriate for the campus residential environment.

Approval of an ESA accommodation does not automatically constitute approval of a particular animal.

H. Approval Required Prior to Arrival

• Animals must not be brought to campus or into College housing prior to receiving written approval from the Office of Disability & Access Services.
• Animals found in residence prior to approval will be required to be removed immediately and may be addressed through the resident conduct process.

I. Individualized Review

All ESA requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis through an individualized assessment. Submission of documentation or participation in the review process does not guarantee approval.

V. Animals Eligible for Consideration

The College generally expects approved ESAs to be dogs or cats. Requests involving other commonly domesticated animals will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

• Generally, only one ESA will be approved per resident.
• Typically, only one animal may reside within a housing unit. 
• Dogs should generally be at least twelve (12) months old. Cats should generally be at least six (6) months old. 
• Dogs and cats should be spayed or neutered prior to residing in College housing.

VI. Criteria for Approval of a Specific Animal

In determining whether a specific animal may reside in College housing, the College may consider whether:

• The animal is not housebroken or cannot reasonably live in a communal setting.
• The animal’s presence would create significant concerns for roommates, suitemates, or neighboring residents.
• The space required for the animal and any required cage, enclosure, or crate exceeds available housing space.
• The animal’s presence would substantially disrupt the residential environment due to noise, odors, or other factors.
• The animal presents health or safety concerns, including zoonotic disease risks or containment concerns that cannot be sufficiently mitigated.
• Required vaccinations or health records are not current.
• The animal poses or has previously posed a direct threat to people through aggression or injury.
• The animal has caused significant property damage beyond normal wear and tear.

VII. Resident Responsibilities

Residents approved to have an ESA assume sole responsibility for the animal and must comply with the following requirements:

A. Care and Control

• The resident is solely responsible for the care, supervision, feeding, exercise, health, and behavior of the ESA.
• The ESA must be contained within the resident’s assigned living space except when being transported or taken outside for natural relief.
• The ESA must be appropriately crated, caged, or otherwise secured whenever the resident is not present.
• The College reserves the right to inspect cages, crates, or enclosures for safety and appropriateness.

B. Health and Legal Compliance

• The resident must comply with all applicable federal, state, county, and local laws regarding licensing, vaccination, registration, and animal ownership.
• The College may require documentation demonstrating compliance with these requirements.

C. Waste Disposal and Sanitation

• Residents must clean up and properly dispose of animal waste in a sanitary manner.
• Animal waste must be disposed of only in approved locations.
• Animals, cages, crates, litter boxes, and related accessories may not be cleaned in communal bathroom facilities.

D. Damage and Pest Control

• Residents are financially responsible for any damage caused by the ESA beyond normal wear and tear.
• If additional cleaning, pest treatment, fumigation, repairs, or remediation are required because of the ESA, the resident may be charged the associated costs.

E. Conduct Expectations

• The ESA must not interfere with the routine operation of College housing or the rights of other residents.
• Evidence of neglect, abuse, or mistreatment of an ESA may result in removal of the animal and referral through applicable College processes.

F. Temporary Absence

• ESAs may not remain in College housing overnight without the resident.
• If the resident is absent overnight or longer, the ESA must be removed from campus.

G. Replacement Animals

• If an approved ESA is replaced, the replacement animal must undergo review and approval through the Office of Disability & Access Services before entering College housing.

H. Notification Requirements

• Residents must promptly notify the Office of Disability & Access Services if the ESA is no longer needed or no longer resides in College housing.

VIII. Roommate and Community Considerations

The College may consult with Residence Life staff and affected roommates, suitemates, or neighbors regarding potential concerns related to the presence of an ESA.

Information shared will be limited to that necessary to facilitate housing arrangements and will not disclose confidential disability information.

IX. Removal of an ESA

The College may require removal of an ESA if:

• The animal poses a direct threat to health or safety;
• The animal causes substantial property damage;
• The animal repeatedly disrupts the residential environment;
• The resident fails to comply with this policy;
• The animal is neglected, abused, or inadequately cared for; or
• The accommodation is no longer necessary.

X. Emergency Situations

College personnel are not responsible for the care, supervision, evacuation, protection, or transportation of an ESA during emergencies.

Emergency responders will determine appropriate actions during emergencies and shall not be liable for injury to, loss of, or damage involving an ESA.

XI. Review, Notification, and Grievance Procedures

A. Committee Review and Consideration

Requests for ESA accommodations may be reviewed by the Committee for Non-Academic Accommodation of Disabilities as part of the College’s individualized assessment process. The Committee may consider information provided by the resident, supporting documentation, and relevant housing and campus factors when making recommendations regarding the requested accommodation.

B. Decision Notification Process

Following completion of the review process, the resident will be notified of the Committee’s decision. Prior to bringing an approved ESA into College housing, the resident must meet with a representative of the Office of Disability & Access Services to review the terms, conditions, and responsibilities associated with the accommodation.

C. Grievance Procedure

Residents who disagree with a decision regarding an ESA accommodation may pursue review through the College’s Disability Accommodation Grievance Procedure.

Please contact Anne Schlinck, Director of Disability & Access Services with any questions pertaining to Emotional Support Animals at aschlinc@stac.edu. 

Updated 6/16/2026

View guidelines here.

View policy here.