Service Animal and Assistance Animal Guidelines

SERVICE ANIMAL GUIDELINES

A service animal is defined as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. The work or task a service dog performs must be directly related to the person’s disability. Service dogs may accompany a person with a disability into places that the public normally goes.

Service dogs may be excluded from campus under the following circumstances:

• The dog is disruptive and not effectively controlled.
• The presence of the service dog would fundamentally change the nature of the job, service, or activity.
• The service dog’s presence, behavior, or actions pose an unreasonable or direct threat to property and/or the health or safety of others.
• The dog is not housebroken.
• The animal is not provided appropriate care to maintain health and well-being, and/or the animal is mistreated or abused.

The College is not responsible for the care or supervision of a service dog. Individuals are responsible for the following:

• The health, safety and well-being of a service dog, as well as the cost of any damages as a result of the service dog.
• The immediate clean up and proper disposal of all animal waste.
• The control of the dog at all times.

A student in need of a service animal on campus is asked to contact the Director of Accommodative Services, Laura Galt, at accommodations@union.edu, to discuss their needs and to ensure that appropriate offices are notified, such as the Office of Residential Education & Housing, Academics, and Campus Safety.

ASSISTANCE ANIMAL GUIDELINES

For the purpose of accommodations at Union College, an Assistance Animal is an animal that is recommended by a healthcare or a mental health professional to provide emotional and/or therapeutic support to a person with a disability who has a disability-related need for such support. There must be a relationship, or nexus, between the individual’s disability and the assistance the animal provides. An Assistance Animal is not specifically trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. Unlike a service animal, an Assistance Animal may not accompany a person with a disability beyond the residential setting (e.g., to academic buildings, libraries, or dining halls).

NOTE: Assistance Animals are NOT permitted to reside in campus residences unless and until the requesting student has received approval and fulfilled all requirements, as noted below.

• As with a service animal, a student is responsible for the control, care, and supervision of his/her Assistance Animal at all times; the College may exclude an Assistance Animal if a student fails to fulfill this responsibility.

With advanced approval, Union College will permit Assistance Animals (sometimes referred to as “emotional support animals” or “ESAs”) in on-campus housing as a reasonable accommodation to eligible students with documented needs. The determination of whether an Assistance Animal will be permitted in College housing is made on a case-by-case basis, through an interactive process involving the individual requesting the accommodation and relevant campus personnel. For an Assistance Animal to be considered a reasonable accommodation in College housing, there must be a current verification of need from an appropriate licensed healthcare professional provided to Accommodative Services. Requests for animals not commonly kept as pets will require a demonstration of a disability-related therapeutic need for the specific animal or the specific type of animal.

• If applicable, new/incoming students should submit an Assistance Animal Special Housing Accommodation application by June 16, 2024 (the same deadline as for Special Housing Accommodation Requests).

A student who wishes to bring an Assistance Animal to Union College must:

• Submit a fully completed Assistance Animal Special Housing Accommodation Application and any other supporting documentation to Accommodative Services at accommodations@union.edu. Section 1 must be completed in full by the student. Section 2 of the form must be completed in full, with official stamp, by a licensed professional who is currently treating the student and is qualified to address the student’s needs.
• A primary care provider is acceptable in some circumstances, however, a treating specialist is highly preferred. The licensed provider may not be a relative or close friend of the student or the student’s family. Additional documentation may not be submitted in lieu of a fully completed form.
• Once the completed application is received by Accommodative Services and reviewed by the Special Housing Committee, the College reserves the right to request additional information, if needed, including meeting with the student and/or asking for further written documentation, or asking to speak with the licensed provider who is primarily responsible for treating the student.

Accommodative Services Office

Phone: (518) 388-8785 | Fax: (518) 388-6444 | Email: accommodations@union.edu

DECISIONS

The Special Housing Committee will review completed Assistance Animal Special Housing Accommodation Applications at its next-scheduled meeting, and students will be notified via email from Accommodative Services of the decision shortly thereafter. Please note that it may take up to four weeks from the time of submission for applications to be reviewed and decisions issued.

• Approval from the Special Housing Committee for an Assistance Animal is conditional until the student meets with a staff member from the Office of Residential Education & Housing to review and sign the Union College Assistance Support Animal Agreement. Failure to comply and meet with residential staff within the required timeframe will result in the conditional approval of the Assistance Animal being revoked.