Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals
Policy Administrator: Chief Officer for Diversity and Inclusion
Authority: N.J.S.A. 18A:64-6; Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101-12213 (2013) (amended 2008); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Effective Date: September 21, 2016; September 22, 2021
Index Cross-References: Procedure 3990 – Service Animal Procedure, Student and Community Procedure; Procedure 3991 – Emotional Support Animal Procedure
Policy File Number: I-125
Approved By: Board of Trustees
Stockton University permits the use of service animals and emotional support animals to assist individuals with disabilities. An individual with a disability is an individual who meets one of the following criteria:
1) has a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities (examples are walking, speaking, seeing, hearing, and performing manual tasks);
2) has a record of such impairment; or
3) is regarded as having such an impairment.
Service Animals
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as a dog or miniature horse that performs tasks specific to the individual’s disability. Animals other than dogs or miniature horses are not considered service animals.
Stockton University supports the use of service animals for an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability, which will promote the independence and safety of the individual.
A service dog is permitted in all University facilities and grounds where students, the community, and other participants in services, programs, or activities are permitted.
Stockton University will make reasonable modifications within its policies and procedures to permit an individual with a disability the use of a miniature horse if the miniature horse has been individually trained to perform the task or work for that individual.
Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support animals are not classified as service animals under the ADA because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task.
Emotional support animal provides therapeutic benefit to an individual with a documented disability. Emotional support animals also may be referred to as assistance, therapy, or comfort animals, however they are not pets and they are not service animals.
Documentation
Documentation is required to support a request for a service animal or an emotional support animal as an accommodation. Individuals requesting service animals or emotional support animals to reside in on-campus dwellings or to accompany an individual in an on-campus office space will need to complete the documentation with either the Learning Access Program (students), or the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (employees).
Individuals who have service or emotional support animals are subject to all applicable licensing and vaccination rules and regulations, including local animal control or public health requirements.
The service or emotional support animal must be under the control of its handler at all times. Service animals and emotional support animals may be excluded from campus when the handler lacks control, the animal’s behavior poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others, or if the animal is not housebroken.
Review History:
Policy Administrator 03/23/2021
Divisional Executive 03/23/2021
General Counsel 06/05/2021
Cabinet 07/02/2021
President 07/02/2021
Board of Trustees 09/22/2021
