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2025-2026 Policies and Procedures
3357:12-12-19-Service Animal Policy
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A.POLICY
Zane State College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. It is the policy of the College to generally allow Service Animals in its buildings, classrooms, meetings, dining areas, recreational facilities, activities, events, and other places to which the general public is invited where the animal is accompanied by a qualified individual with a disability who indicates the Service Animal is trained to provide, and does provide, a specific service to the individual that is directly related to his or her disability.
B.POLICY GUIDELINES
- APPLICABILITY: This policy shall be applicable to the College Board of Trustees; facultyand employees of the College, whether part-time or full-time, or temporary; studentswhile attending or employed by the College; visitors contractors and consultantsperforming work or providing services on College-owned or leased property; individualsand organizations renting, leasing, or otherwise granted permission to use campusfacilities; alumni and alumnae, guests, visitors, or invitees of the College; and members ofthe general public. All members of the campus community and members of the generalpublic shall comply with this policy.
- DEFINITIONS: The definitions contained in this Policy will be interpreted and applied bythe College in a manner that is consistent with applicable law, professional usage, andconventional understanding within the community. In the event of any alleged conflict inmeaning, statutory and legal interpretations shall prevail and be deemed controlling.
- Service Animal: A Service Animal is defined as a dog (or a miniature horse, but forpurposes of this policy the use of the word “dog(s)” includes and applies tominiature horses) that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for thebenefit of an individual with a disability. Service Animals are working animals, notpets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly relatedto the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort oremotional support do not qualify as Service Animals under the ADA. Examplesinclude but are not limited to, guiding, alerting, opening doors,retrieving/fetching items, or pulling a wheelchair, calming a person with PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
- Handler: The Handler is the person who is responsible for controlling the Service Animal.
- Qualified Individual with a Disability: - A Qualified individual with a disabilitymeans:
- With respect to any program or activity (except employment), an individualwith a disability who, with or without reasonable modifications or aids, meetsthe essential requirements for participation in, or receipt of benefits from,that program or activity
- With respect to employment, a qualified individual with a disability means an individual with a disability who satisfied the requisite skill, experience, education and other job-related requirements of the employment position such individual holds or desires, and who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of such position.
4. Emotional Support Animal: A dog whose sole function is to provide comfort, therapeutic, or emotional support, and that does not meet the requirements of a Service Animal as defined in Sec. III(A) does not qualify as a Service Animal under the ADA.
3. REQUESTS FOR SERVICE ANIMAL ACCOMMODATION
- Students: Students seeking permission to have a Service Animal on campus are directed to do so with the Office of Accessibility Services.
When it is not obvious or readily apparent that the Service Animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, then College employees may ask the two following questions ONLY:
- (1) “Is this a Service Animal that is required because of a disability?”
- (2) “What work or task has the Service Animal been trained to perform?”
Employees cannot ask about the individual’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task. Decisions regarding requests for Service Animals on campus will be made in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidance.
Faculty and Staff Members: Employees seeking permission to have a Service Animal in the workplace, are directed to the Office of Human Resources, who will process, review and make determinations of the accommodation request.
When it is not obvious or readily apparent that the Service Animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, then College employees may ask the two following questions ONLY:
- (1) “Is this a Service Animal that is required because of a disability?”
- (2) “What work or task has the Service Animal been trained to perform?”
Employees cannot ask about the individual’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.
Decisions regarding requests for Service Animals on campus will be made in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidance.
Visitors: Service Animal accompanying individuals with disabilities are welcome in all areas of campus that are open to the general public. When it is not obvious or readily apparent that the Service Animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, then College employees may ask the two following questions ONLY:
- (1) “Is this a Service Animal that is required because of a disability?”
- (2) “What work or task has the Service Animal been trained to perform?”
Questions related to the use of Service Animals on the College premises by visitors should be directed to the Office of Human Resources. Decisions regarding requests for Service Animals on campus will be made in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidance.
Miniature Horse Request: If any Handler requests the accommodation of a service miniature horses, then the College will assess the following factors in determining whether or not a service miniature horse can be reasonably accommodated: (1) whether the miniature horse is housebroken; (2) whether the miniature horse is under the Handler’s control; (3) whether the facility can accommodate the miniature horse’s type, size, and weight; and (4) whether the miniature horse’s presence will not compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for safe operation of the facility.
4. HANDLER RESPONSIBILITIES
- Control Requirements: A Service Animal must be under the control of the handler. The Service Animal must have a harness, leash or other tether, unless, use of such devices would interfere with the animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls. To the extent possible, the Handler should ensure the Service Animal does not display any behaviors or noises that are disruptive to others, unless part of the service being provided to the Handler; and ensure that the animal does not block an aisle or passageway for fire egress.
- Care of Service Animal: The cost of care, arrangements, and responsibilities for the well-being of a Service Animal are the sole responsibility of the Handler at all times. The Handler must adhere to and be aware of all applicable local and state ordinances regarding ownership of animals (i.e., leash law, proper identification, vaccinations, etc.).
- Waste Cleanup - Cleaning up after the Service Animal is the sole responsibility of the Handler. In the event that the Handler is not physically able to clean up after the animal, it is then the responsibility of the Handler to hire someone capable of cleaning up after the animal. The person cleaning up after the animal should abide by the following guidelines:
- Always carry equipment sufficient to clean up the animal’s feces whenever the animal is on campus.
- Properly dispose of waste and/or litter in appropriate containers.
- Contact staff if arrangements are needed to assist with cleanup. Any cost incurred for doing so is the sole responsibility of the Handler.
Damage Liability: Handlers must take appropriate precautions to prevent property damage or injury to others and other’s property. If a Service Animal damages any property of the College, the cost of the damage will be assessed and assigned solely to the Handler as his/her responsibility.
5. REMOVAL OF SERVICE ANIMAL: Service Animals may be ordered removed from the College premises and facilities for the following reasons:
- Out-of-Control Animal: A Handler may be asked to remove his/her Service Animal from the campus premises if the animal’s behavior is out of control and the Handler does not take effective action to control it. If the improper animal behavior happens repeatedly, the Handler may be prohibited from bringing the animal on campus or into any College facility until the Handler can demonstrate that he/she has taken significant steps to correct the behavior.
- Non-housebroken Animal: A handler may be directed to remove the Service Animal if it is not housebroken, or for failure to adhere to responsibilities in Sec. 5(C) above.
- Direct Threat: A handler may be directed to remove an animal that the College determines to be a substantial and direct threat to the health and safety of others.
- Once the request is made, removal must be immediate. Once the Service Animal is removed, the College will work with the Handler to determine reasonable alternative accommodations and/or opportunities to participate in the service, program, or activity without having the Service Animal on the premises.
6. CONFLICTING NEEDS/HEALTH CONCERNS:
- Complaints of allergies by other individuals, or other individuals’ fear of dogs, are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing services to individuals using Service Animals. When a person who is allergic to dog dander and a person who uses a Service Animal must spend time in the same room, for example, in a classroom, they both should be accommodated. Decisions for such accommodations will be made by the appropriate College staff (depending on status of individuals involved - i.e., student, employee, or visitor) and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidance.
7. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES:
- Handlers who have been denied a request or who receive notice to remove a Service Animal may request an appeal. Appeal requests must state a specific reason for reconsideration. Appeals will be reviewed by an ad hoc committee including relevant personal, based on the status of the individual (meaning student, employee, or visitor).
8. PUBLIC ETIQUETTE TOWARDS SERVICE ANIMALS:
- Faculty, staff, students and visitors should avoid the following:
- Petting a Service Animal, as it may distract them from their task at hand.
- Feeding a Service Animal.
- Deliberately startling a Service Animal
- Separating or attempting to separate a handler from their Service Animal.
C. POLICY HISTORY
- Policy adopted and approved by President’s Cabinet March 2019
D. INITIATING DIVISION
E. POLICY REVIEWERS
- Student Services
- Office of Human Resources
- Faculty and Staff Senate
F. POLICY REFERENCES
a. See Office of Student Services for “Pets on Campus” document
b. No codified rules
c. No connecting policies
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