Policy:

It is the policy of Clarkson College to afford individuals with disabilities who require the assistance of a Service Animal with equal opportunity to access Clarkson College) property, courses, programs, and activities. This policy complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA") and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("Rehabilitation Act"). Among other things, the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act requires Clarkson College to make reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of Service Animals by students, faculty, staff, or visitors with a disability. 

Procedure:

Definition of Service Animal

The ADA defines a "Service Animal" as "any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability." Importantly, other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not "Service Animals" for the purposes of the ADA. However, under certain conditions, Clarkson College will make reasonable modifications for a miniature horse that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability. 

When assessing whether an animal is a "Service Animal" individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, the Service Animal must be trained to do work or perform tasks that are directly related to the individual’s disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks;
• alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds;
• providing non-violent protection or rescue work;
• pulling a wheelchair;
• assisting an individual during a seizure;
• alerting individuals to the presence of allergens;
• retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone;
• providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities; 
• assisting persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.

The crime deterrent effects of a Service Animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for purposes of determining if an animal is a "Service Animal" under this policy. 

Verification of Service Animal

Clarkson College will not ask about the nature or extent of an individual's disability or for medical documentation of it. However, when it is not readily apparent that the Service Animal identified by the individual with a disability is trained to do work or perform tasks for him or her, the Accommodations Office may ask the individual with the disability if the Service Animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the Service Animal has been trained to perform. Clarkson College will not, however, require documentation that the Service Animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a "Service Animal."  

Care and Supervision of Service Animal

The individual with the disability using a Service Animal (the “owner”) is responsible for the Service Animal’s care and supervision. The Service Animal must be under the control of the owner at all times and must have a harness, leash, or other tether. If the use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere with the performance of the work or tasks performed by the Service Animal or is impractical because of the owner’s disability, a harness, leash, or other tether may not be required. However, the owner must still be able to effectively control the Service Animal by other means, such as voice controls or signals. 

A Service Animal is generally permitted to accompany the individual with a disability to Clarkson College facilities where members of the public, students, staff, and faculty are permitted. Clarkson College may ask the owner to remove a Service Animal from any of its facilities if: (1) the Service Animal is out of control and the owner does not take effective action to control it; or (2) the Service Animal is not housebroken. Clarkson College may also ask the owner to remove a Service Animal from any of its facilities if the use or presence of the Service Animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others or if the animal’s behavior, such as barking, is unreasonably disruptive to the other students or Clarkson College personnel. 

Clarkson College may impose legitimate safety requirements on the use or presence of a Service Animal necessary for its facilities' safe operation. Some facilities are unsafe for use or the presence of Service Animals, and Clarkson College may exclude Service Animals on a case-by-case basis based on actual risks. Examples include food preparation areas, medically sensitive patient and clinical areas, and biologically sensitive areas. If a Service Animal is restricted from an area, the Accommodations Office is available to assist in evaluating reasonable accommodations for the Service Animal owner.  

The owner must abide by current city, county, and state ordinances, laws, and regulations pertaining to licensing, vaccination, and other animal requirements. It is the owner’s responsibility to know and understand these ordinances, laws, and regulations. Clarkson College has a right to require documentation of compliance with such ordinances, laws, and regulations, which may include a vaccination certificate. Clarkson College reserves the right to request documentation showing the animal has been licensed. The owner is responsible for cleaning up after and properly disposing of the animal’s feces in a safe and sanitary manner. 

Clarkson College will not ask for or require the owner to pay a surcharge or to comply with other requirements generally not applicable to people without Service Animals. However, an owner may be charged for any damage caused by his or her Service Animal.  

For further questions, please contact the Accommodations Coordinator at [email protected] or at 402-552-6285. Any denial of a Service Animal may be appealed through Clarkson College’s grievance process.  

Request for Notice

Service Animal owners are not required to register their Service Animal with Clarkson College. However, students with a Service Animal must schedule an appointment to meet with the Academic Compliance Office within five (5) business days of the Service Animal’s initial presence on campus to review this policy and sign the Statement of Understanding: Accommodating Students with Service Animals in Teaching Laboratories Acknowledgment Form (Appendix A). This meeting will help the Accommodations Coordinator better understand and meet the unique needs of the student and ensure a smooth integration of the Service Animal on campus. Employees must notify Human Resources at [email protected] and follow the HR-48 ADA-Reasonable Accommodations policy if they have a Service Animal. 

Service Animals in Teaching Laboratories 

Clarkson College students must review and sign the attached Statement of Understanding: Accommodating Students with Service Animals in Teaching Laboratories Acknowledgment Form (Appendix A). Service Animals will not be allowed into Clarkson College labs without the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The specific PPE items for each lab will be identified by the faculty of the course, program director, and Accommodations Coordinator. It is the financial responsibility of the Service Animal owner to bear the cost of any PPE required. Students requiring a Service Animal should take these factors into consideration when making decisions about their Service Animal. Students who require the use of a Service Animal in labs assume responsibility for all risks involved in the use of their Service Animal in lab areas, including the risk of exposure to hazardous materials and objects to their Service Animal.    

Request for Service Animal in Student Housing

Service Animals are allowed in Student Housing under the ADA. Students with Service Animals are requested to contact the Accommodations Coordinator before moving into Student Housing. Clarkson College requests that the student with a Service Animal provide as much advance notice as possible before the desired move-in date so that Clarkson College can best accommodate the student and the Service Animal. A meeting may be arranged between the student, the Residence Hall Coordinator, and the Director of Facilities to discuss how best to meet the needs of all involved. The Accommodations Coordinator will provide information on expectations for the Service Animal to the student and communicate with other Clarkson College community members to ease the student's transition.  

Violation of Policy

Depending on the seriousness of the Service Animal’s conduct or repeated conduct, a Service Animal may be excluded from Clarkson College property temporarily or permanently. If a Service Animal is excluded, the Accommodations Coordinator will assist the student in identifying reasonable accommodations. Service Animal owners who violate this policy or disregard an instruction to remove or exclude a Service Animal from Clarkson College property may be subject to additional penalties, including the Service Animal being banned from any Clarkson College property or subjected to other fines or penalties under applicable ordinances/laws/regulations. Violations of this policy by the Service Animal owner may be referred for disciplinary action.  

Academic Progression 

Clarkson College will accommodate and adhere to all ADA requirements to the best of its ability. However, at clinical sites, fieldwork, practicum, externships, etc., accommodations will vary based on the discretion of the site. Clarkson College will follow clinic policies and work with each student to follow all ADA and accrediting body requirements to assist students in academic progression. Clarkson College cannot guarantee that clinical placement will be available or aligned with degree plan sequences. 

Click here to view "Appendix A, Statement of Understanding - Service Animals in Teaching Laboratories" and to download the Service Animal form.