Animals on Campus (Students)

As reflected in institutional policy, dogs and other pets (except service animals and approved emotional support animals) are not permitted in Institution buildings or on Institution property. 

We recognize that having a service animal on campus or an ESA in the residence hall can be a real benefit for someone with a significant disability.  The practical limitations of our campus and housing arrangements make it necessary to carefully consider the impact of the request for an animal on campus on both the student and the campus community.

Students who have service animals or emotional support animals should adhere to the following procedures regarding having their animals on campus.
 

​All students requesting accommodations are required to participate in an interactive process through the Student Accessibility Resources office.  The process includes submitting a request for accommodations form, participating in an access consultation and submitting appropriate documentation.  Together, the information gathered through these steps will be utilized to determine which accommodations for which you will be eligible at WVSU.  

Some important considerations and information:

• Emotional support animals are considered under the Fair Housing Act (FHA).  The FHA indicates a person may keep an assistance animal in his/her residence hall or campus apartment as a reasonable accommodation if:

  • The individual has a disability;
  • The animal is necessary to afford the individual with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy campus housing; and 
  • There is an identifiable relationship between the disability and the assistance the animal provides.
• When approved, emotional assistance animals are allowed in the residence hall bedroom or campus apartment bedroom for which the individual with a disability is assigned by the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
• ​The process has two stages: a determination if the ESA is necessary based on the documentation AND a determination if it is reasonable to be implemented by the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
• To be considered reasonable as an ESA, the animal must be fully vaccinated, toilet trained, and not engage in any concerning or dangerous behaviors. Due to this, generally speaking, dogs will need to be around 1 year old before they will be allowed on campus.
• Animals that will be primarily contained in a cage or terrarium do not have to meet the toilet training requirement but the cage or terrarium must be kept clean and sanitary.
• The presence of an animal that poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, including the potential transmission of zoonotic diseases such as is the case with some reptiles and rodents, is a factor in determining the reasonableness of an ESA request.
• It is important to remain in contact with the Director with Disability and Accessibility Resources who will assist you through the process outlined below. 
• Monitor your WVSU email account for updates regarding your request which will be sent from sar@wvstateu.edu.
• It can take several weeks or more to complete all the steps.  This is partially dependent on your mental healthcare provider’s speed of response as well as the quality and depth of the documentation submitted.
• ​The process must be completed prior the housing deadline for the given semester.​

When you are ready to begin the request process, complete the steps outlined below:

STEP 1 – Submit Request for Accommodations Form

• The preferred method is the online form (see link below).  A printed copy is available upon request.
• For assistance completing the form, you may request this by email, text, phone or in-person at 117 Sullivan Hall East

ESA REQUEST FORM

STEP 2 – Submit Documentation  

• Documentation must be from a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor or other licensed provider of mental health services. 
• It must include sufficient detail to make it clear you are an individual with a disability as well as a clear connection between your disability and why the ESA is required in order for you to use and enjoy university housing
• You are highly encouraged to utilize the Disability Verification Form to obtain the documentation for this request as it allows your mental health provider to thoroughly explain why an emotional support animal is required for you to reside in and enjoy the residence hall.

• Your mental health provider may utilize their own format as long as answers to the questions from the verification form are included.

Disability Verification Form

• You will need to sign on page 1 to provide consent before forwarding to your provider.
• Once completed, you or the provider can submit the PDF form using the link below.

Documentation Submission

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to the Director for Disability and Accessibility Resources.