Service Animals and Other Animals on Campus
In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable federal and state law, the College may be required to accommodate an otherwise qualified individual with a disability by making a reasonable modification in its services, programs or activities. This Policy addresses the use of Service Animals and other animals on campus by qualified individuals with disabilities or individuals authorized to provide training.
DEFINITIONS
- Service Animal – an animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a Service Animal must be directly related to the handler's disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing nonviolent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. Service Animals may or may not have been licensed by a state or local government or a private agency.
- Emotional Support Animal – an animal selected or prescribed to an individual with a disability by a healthcare or mental health professional to play a significant part in a person's treatment process (e.g., in alleviating the symptoms of that individual's disability).An emotional support animal does not assist a person with a disability with activities of daily living and does not accompany a person with a disability at all times. An emotional support animal is not a "Service Animal”.
ANIMALS ON CAMPUS
ADA regulations state Service Animals are allowed to accompany individuals in all areas where employees or students are permitted, with rare exceptions for health and safety reasons. Emotional Support Animals and pets are not permitted in campus buildings, unless a qualified exception is approved by the Office of Disability Services as outlined in IV.A.1.b, and may not be left in vehicles on College property. There are occasions when a student or employee may need to bring an animal with them for the purpose of meeting an educational objective. Such requests should be made to the appropriate academic Dean or to the Office of Disability Services (i.e., emotional support animals) prior to the animal being allowed inside WPCC’s buildings. Individuals who bring their pets to enjoy the WPCC’s grounds and trails must abide by the City of Morganton’s animal control ordinances.