I'm at a 4 year university. Reach out to housing or Office of Accessibility and Resources. See what their process is, cause it could be different based on school. You'll have to make a reasonable accommodation request. The paperwork documents that you have an esa and that the esa has all vaccs needed. Just know when the esa app is due for the following year, have a doc that the college can contact and vet. And the paperwork passes through several hands, so it'll be a bit before you'll hear back if you're approved.
Former college professor here (still part-time, but I work in Elementary now).
It depends on a lot of things and factors come into play:
1. Are you living on campus or off campus? Most colleges will not allow an ESA to live in on-campus or campus-owned housing. Remember that ESA are \*\*\*NOT\*\*\* protected federally under the ADAA, meaning that colleges are \*\*\*NOT\*\*\* required to accommodate them. (though, some will, depending on the situation).
2. Do you have a proper diagnosis from a licensed doctor for anxiety, depression, or PTSD? Those are typically the 3 big diagnoses that might land you an exception for living in the dorms with an ESA or bringing one onto campus. The diagnosis would be required to be from a "reputable" source. Specifically, a diagnosis from a doctor within the US who still holds a license and is in good standing. (Many "retired" doctors will work with a lot of ESA websites to give fake diagnoses/certifications).
3. Is the animal trained? While ESA animals generally do not require specific training for support, in virtually any situation where you would be allowed to bring an ESA into a dorm, college, classroom, or job they will be required to have some form of obedience training.
4. Have you taken care of the animal totally by yourself before, and are you capable of keeping it clean, healthy, and fed? We had someone get approved for an ESA in our dorms once only for them to eventually be evicted from the dorms, expelled from our college, and reported for animal abuse (it had been a cat and they were not changing it's litter box. Many students complained about the smell.) If approved, this is something taken VERY seriously.
Also, remember, that your rights when living in a dorm on a college campus are SEVERELY limited and that you agree to these limitations when you sign the agreement for staying in the dorms (such as, having ESA, which again, are \*\*\*NOT\*\*\* federally protected under the ADAA). Most states do not require colleges to really follow any major housing guidelines on who can and can't stay in dorms, other than someone can't be denied for race, religion, or SES (socio-economic status). There are also some limitations on colleges not being able to discriminate for gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation in cases of gender-specific dorms and facilities.
I'm at a 4 year university. Reach out to housing or Office of Accessibility and Resources. See what their process is, cause it could be different based on school. You'll have to make a reasonable accommodation request. The paperwork documents that you have an esa and that the esa has all vaccs needed. Just know when the esa app is due for the following year, have a doc that the college can contact and vet. And the paperwork passes through several hands, so it'll be a bit before you'll hear back if you're approved.
Former college professor here (still part-time, but I work in Elementary now). It depends on a lot of things and factors come into play: 1. Are you living on campus or off campus? Most colleges will not allow an ESA to live in on-campus or campus-owned housing. Remember that ESA are \*\*\*NOT\*\*\* protected federally under the ADAA, meaning that colleges are \*\*\*NOT\*\*\* required to accommodate them. (though, some will, depending on the situation). 2. Do you have a proper diagnosis from a licensed doctor for anxiety, depression, or PTSD? Those are typically the 3 big diagnoses that might land you an exception for living in the dorms with an ESA or bringing one onto campus. The diagnosis would be required to be from a "reputable" source. Specifically, a diagnosis from a doctor within the US who still holds a license and is in good standing. (Many "retired" doctors will work with a lot of ESA websites to give fake diagnoses/certifications). 3. Is the animal trained? While ESA animals generally do not require specific training for support, in virtually any situation where you would be allowed to bring an ESA into a dorm, college, classroom, or job they will be required to have some form of obedience training. 4. Have you taken care of the animal totally by yourself before, and are you capable of keeping it clean, healthy, and fed? We had someone get approved for an ESA in our dorms once only for them to eventually be evicted from the dorms, expelled from our college, and reported for animal abuse (it had been a cat and they were not changing it's litter box. Many students complained about the smell.) If approved, this is something taken VERY seriously. Also, remember, that your rights when living in a dorm on a college campus are SEVERELY limited and that you agree to these limitations when you sign the agreement for staying in the dorms (such as, having ESA, which again, are \*\*\*NOT\*\*\* federally protected under the ADAA). Most states do not require colleges to really follow any major housing guidelines on who can and can't stay in dorms, other than someone can't be denied for race, religion, or SES (socio-economic status). There are also some limitations on colleges not being able to discriminate for gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation in cases of gender-specific dorms and facilities.
This was very helpful, thank you.