Policy Summary
Edgewood College policy is that service dogs and service animals assisting individuals with disabilities are generally permitted in all public facilities and programs on the Edgewood College campus with limited exceptions.
Who This Policy Applies To
This policy applies to students, employees, visitors, and guests who use a service dog or other service animal at the institution.
Purpose
It is Edgewood College’s policy to afford individuals with disabilities who require the assistance of a service animal equal opportunity to access College property, courses, programs, and activities.
This policy complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-11) and 45 CFR Part 84; and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.
Service Animal Owner’s Responsibilities
Service animal owners are responsible for management of the animal’s behavior on campus, including but not limited to:
- Always keep the service animal under their direct control, such as by a harness, leash, or other tether; however, if the use of a harness, leash, or other tether interferes with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks, or if the owner’s disability prevents the use of such devices, then the service animal must be under the owner’s control through voice control, signals, or other effective means;
- Ensure the service animal does not disturb or disrupt normal academic or administrative functions;
- Immediately clean up after the service animal and properly dispose of the service animal’s waste or other debris;
- Prevent the service animal from entering any pond, fountain, or stream located on College premises; and
- Comply with any relevant city, county, and/or state license and leash laws while the service animal is on College premises.
The owner is responsible for damage or injury caused by the service animal.
Permissible Inquiry
In some situations, it is not obvious that the dog or animal is a service animal. Requesting any documentation for the service animal, requiring that the animal demonstrate its task, or inquiring about the nature of the person’s disability is not permitted. The individual may be asked about only two specific topics:
(1) is the dog/service animal a service animal required because of a disability? And if yes,
(2) what work or task has the dog/service animal been trained to perform?
If the response to the first question is no, the animal is only permitted on campus as an approved emotional support animal (ESA). In general, ESAs are limited to the student’s residence; they are not allowed in public settings. The individual can be asked to explain the ESA description listed in the Support Plan from Disability and Accessibility Services.
Policy Exceptions and Removal of Service Animals
A service dog or other service animal may be excluded in areas where the presence of a service animal fundamentally alters the nature of a program or activity. Examples may include, but are not limited to, laboratory or classroom spaces, areas requiring protective clothing, food preparation areas or other sterile environments, and/or other research facilities where animals are present.
College personnel may only ask service animal owners to remove their service animal from College premises or from the immediate area as follows:
- If the service animal is not under the owner’s direct control or the service animal is disturbing or disrupting the normal administrative, academic, or programmatic routine, then the owner must first be given an opportunity to get the animal under control. If the disruption or disturbance continues, then the owner may be asked to remove the animal; or
- If the service animal’s presence, behavior, or actions constitute an immediate risk or danger to people or property, the owner can be asked to remove the animal immediately, and 911 (emergency assistance) may be contacted.
If asked to remove the service animal, the owner must be offered the opportunity to return to the College premises or the immediate area without the service animal and be provided with reasonable assistance at that time to participate in the College service or program.
A service animal may only be excluded for an individual event based on its or the owner’s behavior at that event. The service animal or its owner cannot be excluded from future events based on a problem at a past event, except as provided in the Policy Violations section.
Owners with concerns about the removal of their service animal should contact the Human Resources Department or Disability and Accessibility Services.
Policy Violations
Depending on the seriousness of the animal’s conduct or repeated conduct, service animals may be excluded from Edgewood College property temporarily or permanently. The Disability and Accessibility Advisor is responsible for conducting the necessary assessments regarding the ongoing or permanent removal of a service animal. If a service animal is excluded, the Disability and Accessibility Services offices are available to assist in evaluating reasonable accommodations for the owner.
Owners who violate this policy or disregard an instruction to remove or exclude a service animal from College property may be subject to additional penalties, including banning from any College property, or other fines or penalties under applicable city, county, or state rules, regulations, or laws. Violations of this policy by an owner who is an Edgewood College student or employee may be referred for corrective or disciplinary action.
Students and Service Dogs or Other Service Animals
Students may choose to have their service animal included as a reasonable accommodation on their Support Plan developed with Disability and Accessibility Services; however, this is not required for animals that meet the definition of a service animal.
Students who plan to live in a housing unit controlled by Edgewood College are required to contact Disability and Accessibility Services and Residence Life prior to moving in to make suitable arrangements for housing the service dog or animal. Students will also need to provide documentation of current vaccinations, a clean bill of health, and licenses and required tags.
Employees and Service Dogs or Other Service Animals
Employee requests for disability accommodations, including requests to have a service dog or other service animal at work, should be directed to the Human Resources Department.
Visitors and Service Dogs or Other Service Animals
A service dog or other service animal accompanying an individual with a disability is welcome in all areas of campus that are open to the public. Specific questions related to the use of service animals on the Edgewood College campus by visitors can be directed to the Human Resources Department or Disability and Accessibility Services.
Service Animals in Training
Service animals in training may be permitted, but are not entitled to, the same access as service animals. Individuals must request and receive approval from Disability and Accessibility Services prior to bringing a service animal in training onto campus. Any individual bringing a service animal in training on College property is responsible for complying with this policy including the Service Animal Owner’s Responsibilities section.
Definitions
- Owner: Owner means any person having an interest in or right of possession to a service animal, or any person having control, custody, or possession of a service animal.
- Service Animal: Wisconsin law defines a service animal as a dog or other animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Examples include, but are not limited to, guiding individuals who are blind, alerting individuals with a hearing loss to sounds, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, pulling a wheelchair, or retrieving dropped items. Service dogs or other animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a service dog or animal has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs or other animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals. This definition complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 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.
- Therapy Animal: A therapy animal is an animal that provides emotional support or passive comfort that alleviates one or more of the identified symptoms or effects of a disability. A therapy animal (also known as an emotional support animal or comfort animal) is not a service animal under this policy. Access for therapy animals is evaluated similarly to any other request for accommodation and should be directed to Disability and Accessibility Services.
Complaint Resolution Resources
Individuals who wish to make a complaint that a College employee may have violated the College’s nondiscrimination and/or non-retaliation policies, including a failure to permit access to a service animal under this policy, may contact:
Disability and Accessibility Services
Human Resources Department
History
Policy last updated August 11, 2021.
