Service Animal

Students with service animals are not obligated to register with Disability Resources or the University. However, if a student living on campus needs a service animal to reside with them on campus, the student must contact Housing and Residence Life (HRL) before bringing the animal.

Service Animal Definition
The animal is a service animal as defined by current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and State of Indiana regulations. Under these laws, a service animal is defined as an animal that is specifically trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a physical, sensory, psychiatric/mental or intellectual disability; and the work or tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability.

Animals that only provide crime deterrent effects, emotional support, wellbeing, comfort or companionship do not fall under the legal definition of service animal. The University reserves the right at any time to ask if the animal is required because of a disability and what specific work or task the animal has been trained to perform. The University also reserves the right to request that the animal be removed from the property if it does not meet the legal definition of service animal, if the handler fails to keep it under appropriate control or if it is not housebroken. An animal meeting the complete and proper definition of service animal will otherwise be permitted anywhere on campus that is typically open to students and visitors.

Service Animal Request Process

• Student should contact Housing and Residence Life (email) that they have a need for a service animal to reside in their designated living space.
• HRL will send the student an email with instructions on how to register the service animal with the office.
• HRL will arrange an in-person meeting with the student. During the meeting with HRL, the student will review the University's animal guidelines, initialing and signing the document.
• To provide enhanced security for apartments and residence halls with animals and allow emergency personnel to know where animals reside, HRL staff will place an animal tag that is visible from outside the apartment or residence hall suite. Each tag is numbered and will be assigned to a specific resident. The tags may not be removed while living in the space. Residents must return the tag when they check out and turn in their key. If a resident does not return the tag, a fine will be added to their student account.