Emotional Support and Service Animal Accommodations

Emotional Support Animal (ESA) accommodations are reasonable modifications or necessary forms of assistance that give a student that has self-identified as having a documented disability whose health, mobility or other issues may impact their ability to equally access the services or programs. Students may request Emotional Support Animal (ESA) accommodations to mitigate the impact of their disability.

An ESA is a companion animal which provides therapeutic benefit, such as alleviating or mitigating symptoms of a person’s disability. ESAs are not service animals. Accommodations are tailored to a student’s need on a case-by-case basis.

Please note the following required steps with all documentation/verification being submitted to The Office of Academic Success, Support and Accessibility, before your ESA Accommodations application can be approved:

• Make an initial request for an ESA accommodation by filling out the Accommodations Request Form
• Submit a letter, signed by an appropriate licensed professional, on official letterhead, including relevant diagnosis and stating their recommendation for an Emotional Support Animal
• Submit a letter declaring Animal Wellness and up-to-date Animal Specific Vaccinations
• Submit a current license from the City of De Pere (if animal is a cat or dog)
• Sign and submit the Student Agreement on Emotional Support Animal
• Read Housing Accommodations Policy, Student Agreement on Emotional Support Animal, and the Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Accommodations and Service Animals Policy
• Schedule and attend a meeting with a member of the Accessibility Team to review and discuss ESA guidelines

Once all listed steps are completed, and ESA accommodations have been granted, everything listed below must occur before bringing the ESA to campus:

• Receive documentation of granted approval from The Office of Academic Success, Support and Accessibility (OASSA)
• Receive documentation of granted approval form Residential Education and Housing (REH)

Please note: Once your ESA accommodation has been granted, you will be required to submit yearly verification of animal appropriate vaccinations, licensing and letter of animal wellness.

Service Animals
Service animals are defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or tasks performed must be directly related to the individual’s disability. The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.

Individuals who wish to bring a service animal to campus – including classrooms and St. Norbert College buildings open to the public – may do so without prior approval. However, students are strongly encouraged to reach out to the Office of Academic Success, Support and Accessibility to ensure that their experience bringing the animal to campus is smooth.