Marietta College Emotional Support Animal Policy

Marietta College recognizes the value of Emotional Support Animals to assist a student with a diagnosed

disability and complies with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Housing

Act. The following policy is intended to clarify the roles of Emotional Support Animals, outline the

procedures for students wishing to access such accommodations, and explain the rights and

responsibilities of students in this regard.

Definition

An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is defined as an animal that provides emotional or other support

that ameliorates one of more identified symptoms of a person’s disability. An ESA is not a pet or a

service animal. Unlike service animals, emotional support animals are not required to be trained to

perform work or tasks, and they include species other than dogs. ESAs must remain confined to the

student’s living area with the exception of trips outside to visit a relief area or to take the ESA for a walk.

Since an ESA is not regarded as a service animal, it may not be taken into other public areas of the

campus, including the dining hall, classrooms, and administrative buildings. Additionally, ESAs may not

be brought to campus events where pets are not welcome, even if those events are being held

outdoors.

Accommodation Requests

Students who require the use of an ESA on campus must register as a student with a disability with the

Office of Disability Services in the Academic Resource Center. Before an ESA can move into the

residence hall, a request must be made to the Academic Resource Center’s Assistant Director of

Disability Services, and approval must be granted 30 days prior to move- in. No animal can live on

campus during the application process. The student must submit the Medical Verification Form for

Reasonable Accommodations: Emotional Support Animal, Roommate/Suitemate Approved Animal

Acknowledgement, Emotional Support Animal Agreement, and Emotional Support Animal Housing

Agreement.

Once all of these forms have been submitted, the Academic Resource Center’s Assistant Director of

Disability Services will review the documentation described above and, if he/she determines a qualifying

disability exists, will arrange a meeting with the student requesting the ESA. This policy will be carefully

reviewed with the student at that time and then the approval will be sent to the Office of Community

Living. If the Assistant Director determines that the application does not meet the requirements for an

ESA, the student will be notified that their request has been denied and will be told what additional

information would be needed in order for the request to be re-evaluated.

Exceptions and Exclusions

Marietta College may pose some restrictions on, and may even exclude, an ESA in certain circumstances.

Any ESA may be excluded from an area in which it was previously authorized to be only if:

1) It is out of control and effective action is not taken to control it;

2) It is not housebroken (or in the case of an ESA that deposits waste in a designated cage or

litter box, the owner fails to clean and maintain the cage or box such that the cleanliness of

the room is not compromised); or

3) It poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others that cannot be alleviated by

reasonable modifications practices, procedures, or the provision of auxiliary aids or services.

4) The owner is not properly caring for the animal. Any evidence of neglect, mistreatment, or

abuse may result in removal of the animal and/or referral for violations of the Marietta

College Code of Conduct.

5) The animal's behaviors are actively creating disturbances that are directly impacting the

ability of other students to be academically successful -or – the animal's behaviors are

consistently violating college policies (ex: quiet hours).

In considering whether an ESA poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, Marietta College

will make an individualized assessment based on reasonable judgment, current medical knowledge, or

the best available objective evidence to determine:

1) The nature, duration, and severity of the risk

2) The probability that any potential injury will actually occur

3) Whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices, procedures, or the provision of

auxiliary aids or services will mitigate the risk.

The ARC will provide a written statement of explanation to the animal’s owner if a determination is

made that the ESA/owner is not abiding by the policy and a restriction needs to be put into place. In the

event that the removal of an ESA is determined to be necessary, the student will be given 48 hours to

have the animal removed from campus.

Should a student wish to appeal any decision made regarding an emotional support animal, the student

must write a letter outlining the reason for the appeal within two business days of delivery of the

decision. The letter must include the specific reason(s) the decision should be reconsidered and any

relevant documentation supporting their appeal. The animal may not reside on campus during the

appeal process. All appeals should be submitted to the Office of Disability Services in person or at

arc@marietta.edu . Appeals will be considered by a committee of relevant stakeholders

(representatives from Community Living, Center for Health and Wellness, etc.) and a decision will be

rendered to the student in writing within ten business days of the receipt of the appeal. All decisions

are final.

Guidelines for Notification and Rights of Marietta College Community

When a request for an Emotional Support Animal has been approved, the Office of Community Living

staff will make a reasonable effort to notify the other residents in the housing unit where the Emotional

Support Animal will be located. This notice will be limited to information about the animal’s presence:

there will be no disclosure of the student’s disability. Other resident students with medical condition(s)

who are directly and negatively impacted by animals (e.g., respiratory diseases, asthma, severe allergies)

are asked to contact Disability Services if they have health or safety related concerns about exposure to

an Emotional Support Animal. Such effected students may be eligible for a disability accommodation

when living in proximity to an Emotional Support Animal. Disability Services and the Office of

Community Living will collaborate, as necessary, to resolve conflicts related to an Emotional Support

Animal. Staff members will consider the needs and/or accommodations of all resident students

involved.

All roommates of the Owner must agree in writing that the Emotional Support Animal will be in the

residence with them. In the event that one or more roommates do not approve, either the Owner and

the Emotional Support Animal or the non-approving roommate(s), as determined by the Office of

Community Living, may be moved to a different location.

A paw print/Animal decal may be affixed outside the owner’s unit as a notification to the facilities staff

than an animal resides in the unit. The owner or a roommate should be present during any scheduled

maintenance visit.

Guidelines for Members of Marietta College’s Community

To ensure equal access and nondiscrimination of people with disabilities, all members of the Marietta

College community must abide by all of the following practices:

1) Do not ask for details about a person’s disability

2) Do not pet or interact with an ESA without the owner’s permission

3) Do not deliberately startle, tease, or taunt an ESA

If you have a disability that may be affected by the presence of animals, please contact the Assistant

Director of Disability Services in the Academic Resource Center. Marietta College is committed to

ensuring the needs of all people with disabilities are met and will determine how to resolve any conflicts

or problems as quickly as possible.

Questions

Questions or concerns related to this policy should be addressed to the Assistant Director of Disability

Services in the Academic Resource Center on the third floor of Andrews Hall (Room 303).

Phone: 740-376-4700

Email: arc@marietta.edu

Updated 7/7/2020

Emotional Support Animal Agreement

Expectations for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) on campus:

1. The student must submit the Medical Verification Form for Reasonable Accommodation:

Emotional Support Animal, Emotional Support Animal Agreement, and Roommate/Suitemate

and Roommate/Suitemate Agreement. These forms are available from the Office of Disability

Services.

2. The student is responsible to ensure that the animal has been properly registered and

vaccinated in accordance with local ordinances. Additionally, any animal, such as an exotic pet,

that requires special licensing must comply with all relevant state and local requirements

related to keeping the animal. The animal must be registered and vaccinated in accordance

with state ordinances. Although there is no strict limit to the size or type of animal that can

serve as an ESA, animals that are too large for the housing unit and/or may pose a greater than

average risk to the safety of others will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, dogs

must be at least 6 months of age before being permitted to live within a residence hall.

3. The student must declare intent to continue using an ESA annually with the Office of Disability

Services and submit any relevant documentation related to said request. Failure to do so by

posted housing deadlines may impact the ability of the student to bring the ESA back to campus

with them at the beginning of the following semester.

4. When the student is not present, the ESA will be kenneled or otherwise safely and appropriately

contained at all times.

5. ESAs will not leave the student’s room except for trips outside to visit relief areas or take the

ESA for a walk. Students are responsible for the removal and proper disposal of their animal’s

feces/waste. Students must keep the animal on leash when on campus and must observe local

ordinances related to leashing and controlling their animals at all times when taking the animal

for a walk. If the animal is litter trained, the owner must dispose of the contents of the litter box

regularly and in a designated dumpster or trash receptacle.

6. The ESA will not go to classes or accompany the student in academic or administrative buildings

or accompany the student to campus events.

7. The ESA must be well cared for at all times. This includes ensuring the ESA is provided with

fresh water and appropriate food on a daily basis and ensuring the ESA remains free of fleas,

ticks, and other pests and/or diseases.

By my signature below, I verify that I have read, understand, and will abide by the policy outlined above.

Failure to abide by this agreement constitutes grounds for the removal of the animal from campus

housing.

____________________________________ __________________

Student Owner Date

Updated 7/7/2020

Emotional Support Animal Housing Agreement

Expectations for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) in the Residence Hall:

1. The student must provide a completed Roommate/Suitemate Agreement (if applicable) for all

current roommates/suitemates. This form must be updated annually and/or whenever a

change is made to the roommates/suitemates living with the animal.

2. When the student leaves campus for weekends, breaks, or other lengthy periods of time, the

animal must accompany the student. If the student is an athlete and is away for a

game/training, the student must make arrangements to have the animal appropriately cared

for. Please list the name and phone number of the person(s) who will be in charge of the

animal if the owner is off-campus: ________________________________________________

3. If the student is a dog, or other similar animal that cannot hygienically relieve itself in the

student’s room, it must be housebroken. If the ESA is a cat, the cat must be litter box trained.

Other smaller animals (gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.) are not to be left loose in the student’s

room and their habitats must remain clean and odor free.

4. Any biting or other aggressive behaviors on the part of the animal will not be tolerated. The

student is liable for injuries inflicted to other individuals on campus as a result of their animal.

5. The student is responsible for keeping their animal from disturbing roommates or other people

in their residence halls (barking, excessive noise, etc.).

6. Marietta College will not require surcharges or fees for ESAs. However, the student is

responsible for any damage their animal does to any college property and/or any property of

other students with whom they share a living space.

7. The student must provide a clear and recent picture of the animal to both the Office of Disability

Services and the Office of Community Living within 24 hours of the animal arriving on campus.

This should be sent via email to: arc@marietta.edu and ocl@marietta.edu . If an animal whose

picture is not on file is seen in campus living spaces, the student will be asked to remove the

animal and may be referred for violations of the college’s student code of conduct.

8. The student understands that a Paw Print decal is available from the Office of Community Living,

which the student may post on the hallway door of their living space to alert other students and

college staff (including Physical Plant staff) of the presence of the animal. Students are not

required to display this decal; however it is recommended both for the safety of the animal and

of those entering the student’s living space.

9. During an emergency situation, the Marietta College Police and local authorities will be notified

of any ESA that may be in harms way. The safety of the students and staff must take priority but

the animals will be safely secured as soon as possible.

By my signature below, I verify that I have read, understand, and will abide by the policy outlined above.

Failure to abide by this agreement constitutes grounds for the removal of the animal from campus

housing.

____________________________________ __________________

Student Owner Date

Updated 7/7/2020

Roommate/Suitemate Approved Animal Acknowledgement

By my signature below, I understand that I will share the common spaces of my assigned residential

space with the animal approved by this agreement. Should I have concerns regarding the animal, I will

discuss my concerns with the animal’s owner. If the animal’s owner and roommates/suitemates are

unable to come to an understanding or I have any questions about my rights, Marietta College’s

Emotional Support Animal policies, or any incidents that may occur during the semester, I will contact

the Disability Services Office and the Office of Community Living.

I understand that individuals other than the animal’s owner should not touch, pet, or feed an emotional

support animal unless invited to do so by the animal’s owner.

I understand that students are not to inquire into details about the owner’s disability and that the owner

is not required to share any information about his/her disability.

_______________________ _______________________ __________________ _________