Administrative Regulation Title: Animals or Pets on Campus

Regulation Number:  6.11.1

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Definitions:       

  • Emotional Support Animal. An Emotional Support Animal is an animal selected to play an integral part in a person’s on-going treatment process. This Emotional Support Animal must be prescribed to an individual with a disability by a physician or mental health professional.

 

  • Service Animal: A Service Animal is an animal that works, aids, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or that provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified effects of a person’s disability. An assistance animal is not a pet and has the appropriate training.

 

Animals that are specifically authorized to be in campus buildings include:

  1. Service animals assisting people with disabilities that adhere to the definition of a Service Animals. These Service Animals must be leashed and wearing the appropriate identifiable gear.
  2. Emotional Support Animals in EWC buildings or anywhere on campus must be those that assist individuals with on-going medical or mental health issue.
  3. Animals that are used in EWC instructional programs or for special events, e.g., Agriculture, Veterinary Technology, etc.
  4. Animals or pets that accompany visitors, employees, or students on a short-term, nonrecurring basis.
  5. Animals that are brought to campus for Veterinary Technology activities such as pet washing.
  6. Other exceptions may be considered by the Vice President of Administrative Services on an as needed basis.

Requirements:

  1. Documentation from a licensed medical or psychiatric professional must accompany the request to have an Emotional Support Animal or Service Animal on campus.
  2. The animal, regardless of an Emotional Support Animal or Service Animal, shall be trained to be in a public environment and must always be under the owner’s control
  3. The animal shall not pose undue hardship that will be unduly disruptive to other individuals or to the ability of EWC to offer a conducive work or learning environment. Note: EWC reserves the right to rescind approval of the Emotional Support Animal should an undue hardship become evident. Appropriate notice shall be given to the individual.
  4. All owners are responsible for annually completing the EWC Process for Applying for Emotional Support Animal or Service Animal and receiving approval prior to bringing animals on campus.
  5. EWC’s Residence Hall Handbook contains information specific to living with an Emotional Support Animal in the residence halls. Students should refer to that document.

 

Liability for animals and other pets lies with the owner and/or possessor of such animals and pets. Other than service animals, animals or pets shall not be taken into food service areas (e.g., Cafeteria, Student Center, etc.).

 

Animal owners are responsible for working with the campus facilities department to clean up any messes made by their pets. Anyone who brings an animal on EWC-controlled property assumes all financial responsibility for any damages to the property or injury to individuals caused by the animal. If an unrestrained or unattended animal is observed on campus, the local animal control authority will be contacted to take possession of the animal and help locate the animal’s owner.

 

Venomous reptiles, and dangerous or aggressive animals are prohibited from campus grounds and buildings.

 

 

References:  EWC Residence Hall Handbook

 

Original Adoption Date: 2/6/07

Revision Date(s): 2/ 11/ 14, 10/10/17{RN), 11/14/17, 3/26/18

Date reviewed, no change: 10/21/24