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

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

Accessibility Services Office. Before an ESA can move into the residence hall, a request must be made to

the Non-Academic Accessibility Accommodations Coordinator, and approval must be granted 30 days

prior to moving 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 these forms are submitted, the Non-Academic Accessibility Accommodations Coordinator will

Exceptions and Exclusions

Marietta College may restrict, and 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

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 occur

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

auxiliary aids or services will mitigate the risk.

The Non-Academic Accessibility Accommodations Coordinator will provide a written explanation to the

animal’s owner if a determination is made that the ESA/owner is not abiding by the policy and a

process. All appeals should be submitted to the Non-Academic Accessibility Accommodations

Coordinator in person or to [email protected]. 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:

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

Animal. Staff members will consider the needs and/or accommodation 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. If 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

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 Non-Academic Accessibility

Accommodations Coordinator.

Phone: 740-376-4477

Email: lnw002@marietta.edu

and Roommate/Suitemate Agreement. These forms are available from the Non-Academic

Accessibility Accommodations Coordinator.

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. Also, dogs must be

at least 6 months old before being permitted to live in a residence hall.

3.

Please list the type of animal that you are requesting: _________________________________

4. The student must declare intent to continue using an ESA annually with the Non-Academic

Accessibility Accommodations Coordinator. 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.

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

and in a designated dumpster or trash receptacle.

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

or accompany the student to campus events.

8. The ESA must always be well cared for. This includes ensuring the ESA is provided with fresh

water and appropriate food daily 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 removing the animal from campus housing.

____________________________________ __________________

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 away for a game/training,

they must arrange for the animal to be appropriately cared for. Please list the name and phone

number of the person(s) who will oversee the animal if the owner is off campus:

________________________________________________

3. If the student’s ESA 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 because 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 the Non-Academic

Accessibility Accommodations Coordinator within 24 hours of the animal arriving on campus.

This should be sent via email to: [email protected]. 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

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 removing the animal from campus housing.

____________________________________ __________________

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

students to provide recent, relevant, and comprehensive medical documentation. This form must be

life activities. Under this definition, an impairment is a disability if it limits the ability of the person to

perform a major life activity as compared to the average person in the general population. The

definition also considers any mitigating measures, such as medication or other treatment or therapies,

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

14. Have you discussed the responsibilities associated with properly caring for an animal while

______________________________________________________________________________

Full Name (Print): ______________________________________________________________________

Signature and Date: ____________________________________________________________________

State of Licensure and License Number: ____________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________________

Phone Number: ________________________________________________________________________

Please Return to:

Phone: (740)376-4477