• In accordance with Title IX, the Office of Academic Accommodations is able to assist students who are pregnant or are experiencing conditions related to pregnancy Title IX.  which provides equal educational opportunities for pregnant and parenting students.­­ It prohibits educational institutions from discriminating against students based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. Please contact the Director of Academic Accommodations can be reached at 219-473-4349 or jmackowicz@ccsj.edu for more information.

Service Animals

A service animal is defined as a dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for persons with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, or performing other duties.

Inquiries:

A handler living in college residences should schedule an appointment with the Director of Student Life and Student Programs to discuss access to the residence halls, dining, animal control, waste clean up, and other responsibilities. The director may make inquiries to determine whether an animal qualifies as a Service Animal. Staff will ask:

• Is the animal required because of a disability?
• What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

When it is apparent that an animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, no inquiry will be made.

Requirements:

The service animal should respond to voice or hand commands at all times, and be under the full control of the handler. The service animal should be on a leash or harness at all times, unless the use of a leash or harness would interfere with the safe, effective performance of required work or tasks. In this instance, the service animal must be otherwise under the effective control of the handler by voice control, hand signals, or other effective means.

Service animals should only be under the control or possession of their handler.

Etiquette of the service animal should be unobtrusive to other individuals and the living environment. The handler should ensure that the service animals does not:

• Actively seek the attention of other people.
• Sniff people, dining facilities, or the personal belongings of others.
• Display any behaviors or noises that are disruptive to others, unless it is part of the service, work or task that is being provided to the handler.
• Block an aisle or passageway for emergency/fire exit.

Removal:

Service animals may be removed from College facilities or grounds in certain situations including if the animal:

• Is unreasonably disruptive and not brought under the control of the handler;
• Poses a threat to the health or safety of an individual;
• Would cause a fundamental alteration to a College program, service or activity;
• Is not housebroken.

Emotional Support Animals

For the purpose of this document, comfort and therapeutic companion animals will be referred to as emotional support animals. Emotional support animals alleviate one or more of the effects of a student’s disability.

Request Process:

Students must present appropriate documentation to the Office of Academic Accommodations in order to be approved for an emotional support animal at one of the college’s residences. Students should provide documentation of the following:

• The existence of a disability
• A relationship between the disability and the relief the animal provides
• The animal is necessary in order for the student to use and enjoy on-campus residence.

Once the director grants approval, the resident will be notified they can bring their emotional support animal.

Requirements:

• Maintain control over the animal at all times. The animal must be under the control of the owner at all times, and the owner is responsible for making sure the animal does not disrupt the residential community. The owner is responsible for ensuring that the animal is contained, as appropriate, when the owner is not present during the day while the student is attending class or other activities. When the emotional support animal is left in the student’s room, they are required to be stored in a crate, carrier, or kennel. This allows college personnel to enter the room without danger to themselves or the animal. If an animal is found to be roaming at large, the animal is subject to capture, confinement, and immediate removal from the residence.
• Keep the animal in the assigned residence unit. An emotional support animal must be contained within the owner’s privately assigned room, except when the owner is taking the animal outside for natural relief. The animal is not permitted in other students’ rooms or common areas of the residential facilities, classrooms, academic buildings, dining areas, or the athletic facilities.
• Care for the animal according to its needs. The owner is solely responsible for the animal’s well-being, care and cleaning, including but not limited to regular feeding, bathing, grooming, daily care and veterinary services. Any evidence of mistreatment, abuse, neglect, or leaving the assistance animal unattended for unreasonably long periods may result in immediate removal of the assistance animal and/or discipline for the owner. College personnel shall not be required to provide care or food for any assistance animal including, but not limited to, removing the animal during emergency evacuation for events such as a fire alarm. Emergency personnel will determine whether to remove the animal and may not be held responsible for the care, damage to, or loss of the animal.
• Unless expressly approved by the director of housing, the assistance animal may not be left unattended overnight in the residential facilities to be cared for by another student. The assistance animal must be taken with the owner if they leave campus overnight or for a prolonged period.
• Manage animal relief and waste in a sanitary manner. The owner is responsible for immediately removing and properly disposing of animal relief and waste deposited on college grounds or within the facilities. Assistance animals must be taken out of the building by way of the shortest and most direct path, and must be maintained under standard restraints such as a carrier and/or collar when outdoors, in public areas, or in transit and must be confined to the residence when not in transit.
• Be responsible for flea, tick, or pest damage or infestation caused by the assistance animal. The owner’s residence may be inspected for fleas, ticks, pests, and/or damage to the residential facilities once a semester or as needed. Residences will schedule the inspection and notify the resident in advance of the scheduled inspection. If fleas, ticks, or other pests are detected through inspection, the residence hall will be treated using approved fumigation methods by a college-approved pest control service. The owner will be billed for the expense of any necessary pest control treatment.
• Be responsible for property damage caused by the assistance animal. The owner will be financially responsible for expenses incurred above a standard cleaning or for repairs, beyond reasonable wear and tear, to the residential premises, including losses, liability, claims, and harm to others caused by the assistance animal.
• Provide updated health documentation at the start of each academic year. Emotional support animals must be registered at the beginning of every academic year with the Office of Academic Accommodations.

Department of Education

If a student feels that their needs have not been appropriately met by the Office of Academic Accommodations, they should contact Dr. Dionne Jones-Malone, Vice President of Student Engagement and Retention djonesmalone@ccsj.edu