Under the FHA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Dean of Students Office at The University of Hartford engages in an interactive and collaborative process with students to determine eligibility for an Emotional Support Animal in campus housing.
A campus housing resident with a disability may keep an Emotional Support Animal in their residence hall room or campus apartment as a reasonable accommodation if:
- The student has a disability that a Health Professional has verified.
- The assistance Animal is necessary to afford the student an equal opportunity to use and enjoy campus housing.
- An identifiable relationship exists between the disability and the therapeutic relief or assistance the Emotional Support Animal provides, as that health care provider has verified.
Eligibility
Eligibility for an assistance animal in campus housing is determined on a case-by–case basis upon review of required documentation. Students must email access@hartford.edu to access the Emotional Support Animal Application Packet.
As a summary of the packet, documentation must include:
- Completed Emotional Support Animal Application packet (provided by request to students), including a signed Emotional Support Animal Agreement Form and the Emotional Support Animal Registration Form
- Statement of good health for the animal, written and certified by a licensed veterinarian
- The animal’s updated immunization records
- Photograph of the animal
- Completed Provider Form from a Health Professional with information that establishes the existence of a disability and a relationship between the disability and the need for an Emotional Support Animal (see Emotional Support Animal Packet for more details).
Once documentation has been submitted, approval of an assistance animal can take up to 45 days to process. Emotional Support animals will not be permitted on campus until a student has received formal approval.
For information about service animals or how to apply to have an Emotional Support Animal on campus, please get in touch with access@hartford.edu or call 860-768-4312.
Appeals
Should you wish to appeal an Emotional Support Animal denial decision, you may do so by emailing Tracy Lopez, tlopez@hartford.edu, within 5 business days of receiving the denial decision. Your appeal will be reviewed, and a decision rendered to you within 7 business days. Appeals are done in writing.