Student Handbook 2024-25 > Disability Services > Service and Emotional Support Animals in Residence > Application and Approval Process for the use of an ESA

Application and Approval Process for the use of an ESA

Students with disabilities who require the use of Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) as a reasonable accommodation may be permitted to bring such animals on campus provided that they comply with the College’s policies regarding such animals.  

Students who seek to bring an ESA to campus must email Disability Services at Olin (DSO) at disability.services@olin.edu. This is an interactive process where every situation is considered on a case-by-case basis.  

Please note: 

• Approval for an ESA is not automatic.  The staff will determine, on a case-by-case basis, and in collaboration with other offices on campus if necessary, whether to approve the student’s request for an ESA. 
• In making this determination, Student Affairs and Resources (StAR) will consider the needs of the student and consider whether this request will have a direct impact on removing barriers to accessing their education.  

The animal must not be in residence prior to approval by the Office of Student Affairs. The approval of a request is animal-specific and is not transferable to another animal. ESAs are not allowed in public areas (except outdoor public areas) except to enter or exit the building. ESAs are not permitted in any campus buildings or indoor public areas outside of their direct residence.  

A resident student seeking to keep an ESA in housing must make a formal request to the Disability Services Office at Olin.  Any approval under this policy is valid for one academic year.  For the initial request, the student will fill in the ESA Request Form that they receive from DSO and documentation is required.  Upon review each year, if the continued need for an ESA is not readily apparent, the College reserves the right to request additional clarification and medical documentation from a physician, psychiatrist, social worker, or other mental health professional, including (i) verification of the student’s disability, (ii) statement on how the animal serves as an accommodation for the documented disability, and (iii) statement on how the need for the ESA relates to the ability of the student to use and gain benefit from College housing. 

Any necessary documentation must be dated within the last 12 months. 

After receiving completed documentation for the application for an ESA, Disability Service Office staff will arrange a meeting with the requesting student. This policy will be reviewed with the resident student at that time. 

Notification and Appeal Rights for Approved Animals

For ESAs only: Once the Owner makes the official request, provides documentation, and has spoken with DSO staff about their need, the DSO staff will review all of the submitted documents, along with the Owner’s agreement to all conditions and responsibilities of ownership.  If the request for an ESA is approved, the College will notify the Owner.  

If a request is denied, the requesting student may appeal a denial of a request for an ESA within five business days to the Dean of Student Affairs. The decision of the Dean of Student Affairs is final. 

For all Approved Animals: Student Affairs staff will make a reasonable effort to notify the other residents in the housing where the animal will be located. This notice will be limited to information about the animal’s presence as an accommodation to a student with a disability: there will be no disclosure of the student’s disability. Other resident students with medical condition(s) who are affected by animals (e.g., respiratory diseases, asthma, severe allergies) are asked to contact Disability Services at Olin if they have a health or safety related concern about exposure to an Assistance Animal. Such affected students may be eligible for disability accommodations when living in proximity to a Service or Assistance Animal. The Office of Student Affairs staff will collaborate, as necessary, to resolve conflicts related to an Assistance Animal. Staff members will consider the needs and/or accommodations of all resident students involved. 

All roommates or suitemates of the Owner must sign an agreement acknowledging that the Service or Assistance Animal will be in residence with them. If one or more roommates or suitemates do not approve, the non-approving roommates or suitemates, may be moved to a different location. 

Revocation of Approval for ESAs

The College will take appropriate measures, up to and including revocation of approval for an ESA if, among other reasons: 

• The Owner violates any term of this policy, after notice and reasonable opportunity to remediate the violation(s) when possible
• The ESA is no longer needed to assist with a disability or is no longer deemed a reasonable accommodation
• The College determines that the Approved Animal threatens the health, safety, or property of anyone in the Olin community, or that the Approved Animal is adversely affecting Olin’s programs and activities; or 
• The College discovers that false or misleading information was provided in the Owner’s application for approval of an Assistance Animal. 

The College reserves the right to make interim accommodations while determining appropriate measures. 

The requesting student may appeal revocation of approval of an ESA within five business days of the notice of revocation to the Dean of Student Affairs.  The decision of the Dean of Student Affairs is final. 

The Owner must notify the Office of Student Affairs in writing if the Approved Animal is no longer needed or is no longer in residence. To replace an Approved Animal, the Owner must file a new Housing Accommodation Request Form.