- Prospective/UG Students
- Graduate Students
- Eligibility & Registration
- Accommodations & Services
- Useful Information
- Campus Support Services
- Faculty
With respect to a request for an emotional support animal, the university will determine, on a case-by-case basis, and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, whether the animal is a reasonable accommodation on campus. In doing so, the university will balance the needs of the individual with the impact of animals on other campus patrons. The animal is not allowed in University Housing until it has been approved by Accessibility and Accommodations. A student may keep an ESA in a residence hall as a reasonable accommodation if:
The student has a documented disability.
The student has documentation of established mental health care and coping strategies.
The animal is necessary to afford the person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.
There is an identifiable relationship or nexus between the disability and the assistance the animal provides.
See Eligibility for Accommodations & Services documentation guidelines.
For students seeking reasonable accommodation, an accommodation review process will be undertaken, and may involve additional conversations between Accessibility and Accommodations and the requesting student. Upon an interactive process with the student, Accessibility and Accommodations will make a determination of the reasonableness of each specific emotional support accommodation requests, including the nexus between the disability and the assistance an identified animal will provide.
The student handler must be registered with Accessibility and Accommodations with a documented disability. Accessibility and Accommodations must agree that the animal is necessary to utilize and provide proper assistance to the student. The animal should not disturb the other residents of the living quaters.
(PLEASE NOTE: BOTH Psychological forms MUST BE filled out COMPLETELY by a LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, with which the student has an established relationship. We define an established relationship as one that has included at least three sessions)
The handler must ensure that all handler/animal-related local and state ordinances are followed. This includes leash laws and vaccination requirements.
The handler will work with housing to determine appropriate locations for animal to relieve itself. This will also include appropriate methods of waste disposal.
The handler must ensure that animal follows housing policies in regards to noise, damage, and maintaining a clean environment. Any damage will result in the handler paying restitution.
The handler must maintain control of the animal at all times to ensure that the animal does not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others. This includes inside and outside of all university buildings while on campus property (this pertains to bathroom-ing and walks ONLY, as an ESA is only permitted in the handler's specified residence hall room).
Regular bathing and grooming of animal is required to avoid significant odors, shedding, and fleas. Animals are never to be bathed or groomed in community or public bathrooms or showers. Groomers are available in the Charleston area.
The handler will keep the animal kenneled when out of the room for the safety of the animal. Sometimes housing staff need to enter the room when the handler is out of the room and the animal would be at risk of running out of the room.
The handler will provide TWO emergency contacts for the animal.
The animal cannot be left alone overnight or an unreasonable length of time without the student present. When the handler leaves campus for a night, the animal must accompany them. Failure to comply will result in calls to the emergency contacts and removal of the animal from campus property. Handlers and their contacts have 48 hours to remove the animal from campus.
The University is not responsible for the care, feeding, and other related expenses of the animal.
Student must provide A&A with vaccination records with initial ESA paperwork and provide A&A updated vaccination records each year.
This ESA Form is for the approved animal only. If the animal passes away, runs away or is removed from campus, this process starts over.
McAfee Gym, Room 1336
217-581-6583
Fax: 217-581-7208
accommodations@eiu.edu
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. & 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.