Once the student has completed the Self-Disclosure meeting and provided documentation describing an identifiable relationship, or nexus, between the student’s functional limitations due to a disability and the therapeutic need for the animal in ameliorating those limitations, the following are next steps. Animals may not visit or move to campus until approval for the ESA is made and a door paw and collar/cage tag is issued by OAS. You will receive a written notification when your ESA is approved (Student is responsible for the cost of the collar/cage tag-$10)
1. The student must register with the Office of Accessibility Services as a student who needs accommodations due to a disability. Please bring:
- Completed Physician form
- Completed Veterinarian Health Verification form
- Current photo of animal
- Completed ESA student application
2. Accessibility Services staff will then determine if the student’s request for ESA is approved and will review to decide if preferred animal is appropriate for residence hall living and/or if the student’s current on-campus residence is appropriate for the preferred animal.
3. The student will meet with Accessibility Services staff to review the “Owner Responsibilities” document.
4. If the student’s preferred animal is approved, the student will then provide Accessibility Services with updated veterinary documentation (including Cert. of Health) depending upon the type of animal (go to step 6).
5. If the student’s preferred animal is not approved, the student will have the opportunity to choose a different animal or appeal the decision (go to step 2).
6. Res Life will verify the student’s roommate(s) (if applicable) is/are willing and able to live with the animal in question.
7. Should there be any issue with the roommate(s) living with the animal, Accessibility Services will work with Residence Life staff to make any necessary housing changes.
8. Residence Life and the student will then set a date for the animal to be brought to campus. (Due to the unpredictable impact a service animal’s mid semester move-in may have on not just roommates but other residents, Alvernia cannot guarantee that move ins of service animals mid-semester will be logistically possible. Students are encouraged to make every effort to comply with the policy and allow Alvernia to facilitate a start of semester move in of a service animal. Requests for mid-semester move ins will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may be denied where not logistically possible.)
9. The student and Residence Life staff will be provided with a Residence Hall Accommodation Memo outlining the student’s approval for an ESA. Residence Life staff will be advised of the on-campus date via email.
10. The offices of Residence Life, Community Standards, Campus Police, and Facilities/Maintenance will be notified of the existence of the animal.
11. The student will update current vaccine records prior to move in each semester with the Office of Accessibility Services.
12. A door paw identifying the ESA will be given at move in for each semester. You may NOT bring your animal to campus if a door paw has not been issued.