Emotional Support Animals

Emotional Support Animal Policy

Per the Fair Housing Act, Wilson College provides reasonable accommodations for an emotional support animal in college housing. An emotional support animal is an animal that is necessary to afford a person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling when there is an identifiable relationship or nexus between the person’s disability and the assistance the animal provides. Typically, an emotional support animal is prescribed to an individual with a mental health disability; therefore, supporting documentation must be provided by a current licensed mental health professional that is an integral part of a person's treatment process.

Information for the Student:
To request an accommodation, the student must meet the definition of a person with a disability under ADA and have that documentation on file with Accessibility Services within the Academic Success Center. Accommodations are reserved for individuals whose documentation illustrates a clear and substantial need.

Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Wilson College may consider the following factors, among others, as evidence in determining whether the presence of the animal is reasonable or in the making of housing assignments for individuals with emotional support animals:

• The size of the animal is too large for available assigned housing space;
• The animal’s presence would force another individual from individual housing (e.g. serious allergies)
• The animal’s presence otherwise violates individual’s right to peace and quiet enjoyment;
• The animal is not housebroken or is unable to live with others in a reasonable manner;
• The animal’s vaccinations are not up-to-date;
• The animal poses or has posed in the past a direct threat to safety or health of the individual or others, such as aggressive behavior towards or injuring the individual or others, or potential transmission of zoonotic diseases; or
• The animal causes or has caused excessive damage to housing beyond reasonable wear and tear.

The presence of only one ESA will be approved for a student, in order to fulfill the intent of the FHA requirements of providing support to the student with a mental health disability.

The Residential Accommodation Committee (RAC), comprised of representatives from the Accessibility Services Office and Residence Life, reviews each request and determines an approval or denial of an appropriate and reasonable housing accommodation. Based on the type of request, other parties may need to be consulted and/or notified. Students will be notified, in all instances, prior to communication with other departments or individuals.

 The Residential Accommodation Committee (RAC) will consider requests for college housing accommodations promptly. However, if the request for accommodation is made after the established deadline has lapsed it cannot be guaranteed that Wilson College will be able to meet the individual’s accommodation needs during the first semester or term of occupancy.

If the need for an emotional support animal arises when an individual already resides in college housing, the student should contact the Accessibility Services Coordinator as soon as possible. Wilson College cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet the accommodation needs during the semester or term in which the request is received.

Please note that Wilson College does not grant accommodations solely based on the recommendations of care providers. The determination is made based on all information relevant to the documented functional limitations caused by the disability in relation to the residential program.

Requests for an Emotional Support Animal must be renewed on an annual basis. This includes updated mental health related paperwork.

Emotional Support Animal Request Process

Step 1: Submit a Residential Accommodation Request Through Phoenix 360

Students requesting approval for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) must submit a Residential Accommodation Request through Phoenix 360.

To submit a request:
•    Log into Phoenix 360.
•    Select the Help button.
•    Choose Residential Accommodations from the drop-down menu.
•    Complete the request and upload the required documentation.

As part of the request, students must upload a completed Disability Verification Form (DVF). The provider completing the DVF should be a licensed healthcare professional who is qualified to diagnose and treat the student's disability. For ESA requests, the documentation should be completed by a licensed mental health provider with whom the student has an established therapeutic relationship.

Additional supporting documentation may also be submitted if it helps explain the disability-related need for the requested Emotional Support Animal.

This documentation request is consistent with the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and applicable federal guidance regarding disability-related housing accommodations. To be considered for an ESA, the documentation must establish a disability-related need for the animal beyond the benefits of pet ownership.

Step 2: Disability Services Review

After the Residential Accommodation Request and supporting documentation have been submitted, the Disability Services Advisor will review the information. If additional documentation or clarification is needed, the student will be contacted.

When appropriate, the Disability Services Advisor may schedule a meeting with the student to discuss the request and gather any additional information necessary to complete the interactive process. Once the documentation is complete, the request will be forwarded to the Residential Accommodation Committee (RAC) for review.

Step 3: Residential Accommodation Committee Review

The Residential Accommodation Committee reviews each request individually and determines whether the requested accommodation is reasonable and supported by the documentation provided.  Submission of an ESA request does not guarantee approval. Students will be notified of the committee's decision by the Disability Services Advisor following the RAC review.

Step 4: Submit Required Animal Documentation

If the ESA request is approved, the student must provide all required animal documentation before the animal may reside on campus. Required documentation includes:

•    Current Pennsylvania dog license (if applicable under Pennsylvania law).
•    Current veterinary records, including required vaccinations and health documentation.
•    Any additional veterinary information requested by the College.
•    Verification of the animal's height and weight, as required by College policy.

Step 5: Complete the ESA Agreement

Prior to bringing the approved Emotional Support Animal to campus, the student must sign the College's Emotional Support Animal Agreement acknowledging receipt of and agreement to comply with all College policies and responsibilities related to maintaining an ESA in campus housing.

The Emotional Support Animal may not be brought to campus until all required documentation has been received, the ESA Agreement has been signed, and the student has received written approval from the Disability Services Advisor.

Deadlines and Submissions:

In order to ensure that you receive appropriate accommodations, you must complete the above steps by the deadline below. After the deadline has passed, accommodations cannot be guaranteed for the upcoming semester.

• Returning Students: March 20 (Fall semester requests)
• November 20 (Spring semester requests)
• Incoming New Students (Fall Start): July 15
• Incoming New Students (Spring Start): January 20