EMPLOYEES

Employees who wish to bring a Service Animal, Service Animal in Training, Emotional Support Animal, or a Therapy Animal inside campus facilities, must obtain approval as outlined in this section. Student-employees who wish to have their animal accompany them during their student employment are captured by this section.

1.1. Service Animals & Service Animals in Training

1.1.1. Approval: Employees who require a service animal or service animal in training to accompany them in their workspace are permitted to have the animal with them in their work location, and do not need prior approval, except when the presence of the animal imposes a health or safety risk in the work location, such as a dining facility. 

However, the University encourages all employees with service animals and service animals in training to report to Human Resource Services (HRS) that the animal will be present on campus. HRS will be able to work with the employee and the supervisor if there any concerns about the animal’s presence, especially when the animal will be present in laboratories, food prep areas or other spaces where the general public is not permitted.

1.1.2. Service Animals are not required to wear anything that identifies them as a service animals. Service Animals in Training must wear a device, like a leash to patch, that identifies them as service animals in training. The writing on this device must be legible and visible from at least 20 feet away.

1.2. Emotional Support Animals

1.2.1. Approval: Employees seeking approval for an Emotional Support Animal to accompany them in their workspace, or on campus housing, must complete paperwork through HRS Reasonable Accommodation Process.

1.2.2. Notification & Disclosure: To determine if an Emotional Support Animal is a reasonable accommodation, HRS may inform affected individuals, such as officemates, especially if they have allergies. If having an Emotional Support Animal is deemed reasonable, HRS may inform others who might be impacted. This helps prepare for the animal's presence and address potential issues in advance.

1.2.3. Identification Emotional Support Animals are not required to wear anything that identifies them as Emotional Support Animals.

1.3. Therapy Animals

1.3.1. Approval: Therapy Animals must be approved by the Department Head or the Director of the unit that is housing the program or event in which the therapy animal is involved. This approval does not extend to buildings or facilities that the Department Head or Director do not oversee. If approved, the employee is required to complete and sign the “Animal Registration Form” and “User/Owner Statement.”

1.3.1.1. The employee seeking approval for a Therapy Animal must submit proof that the animal has been trained and has the temperament appropriate to be a therapy animal. Proof of training may include, but is not limited to, a certification or an affidavit that the animal has been trained. A demonstration that the animal is trained is also required.

1.3.2. Identification: Therapy Animals must wear a device, like a leash or patch, that identifies them as a therapy animal. The writing on this device must be legible and visible from at least 20 feet away.

1.3.3. Where They Are Allowed: Therapy Animals are only permitted in the specific physical location for the period of the University activity/ program for which their use was approved. If the animal is used in as part of a treatment plan, the Owner is required to obtain participants’ written consent to permit the animal in their therapy session.

STUDENTS

2.1. Service Animals & Service Animals in Training

2.1.1. Approval: Service Animals and Service Animals in Training do not need prior campus approval in order to accompany their Owner on campus.

2.1.2. Where They Are Allowed: Service Animals and Service Animals in Training are allowed to accompany their Owner everywhere the Owner goes, except when the presence of the animal interferes with legitimate safety requirements of the facility or area of a facility.

2.1.2.1. If a student requires their Service Animal or Service Animal in Training to accompany them to a campus facility and the supervisor of that area has expressed concern that the animal will interfere with the legitimate safety requirements of the facility, the student shall bring the issue to ODE for resolution.

2.1.3. Identification

2.1.3.1. Service Animals are not required to wear anything that identifies them as a Service Animal.

2.1.3.2. Service Animals in Training must wear a device, like a leash or patch, that identifies them as a service animal in training. The writing on this device must be legible and visible from at least 20 feet away.

2.2. Assistance Animals

2.2.1. Approval: Students seeking approval of an Assistance Animals must complete paperwork and submit to ODE.

2.2.2. Where They Are Allowed: Approved Assistance Animals are allowed in the Owner’s on-campus housing facility as a reasonable accommodation, but are not allowed in the private rooms of other residents of that facility without the consent of the residents of such rooms. Approved Assistance Animals are only allowed in the common areas of the Owner’s on-campus housing facility and the private rooms of other residents of that facility if they are under control.

2.2.3. Identification: Assistance Animals are not required to wear anything that identifies them as an Assistance Animal.

2.2.4. Notification & Disclosure: To determine if an Assistance Animal is reasonable, ODE/UM Housing may inform affected individuals, such as roommates or those sharing common spaces, especially if they have allergies. If having an Assistance Animal is deemed reasonable, ODE/UM Housing may inform others who might be impacted. This helps prepare for the animal's presence and address potential issues in advance.

VISITORS

3.1. Service Animals & Service Animals in Training

3.1.1. Approval Service Animals and Service Animals in Training do not need prior campus approval in order to accompany their Owner in a campus facility.

3.1.2. Where They Are Allowed Visitors may bring Service Animals and Service Animals in Training in campus facilities in all areas where the public is generally permitted.

3.1.3. Identification

3.1.3.1. Service Animals are not required to wear anything that identifies them as a Service Animal.

3.1.3.2. Service Animals in Training must wear a device, like a leash or patch, that identifies them as a service animal in training. The writing on this device must be legible and visible from at least 20 feet away.

3.2. Emotional Support Animals

3.2.1. Visitors are not permitted to have an emotional support animal with them while in a campus facility.

3.3. Assistance Animals

3.3.1. Permission Visitors’ whose presence on campus is for an educational or academic reason, may seek approval for an Assistance Animal to stay with them in their University Housing.

3.3.2. Approval If a Visitor’s stay qualifies as one that permits Assistance Animals in University Housing, a Visitor who wishes to bring an Assistance Animal with them into University Housing must submit verification paperwork through the HRS Process. HRS and UM Housing will then work with the Visitor to complete paperwork and determine whether the animal’s presence constitutes a reasonable accommodation.

3.3.3. Identification Assistance Animals are not required to wear anything that identifies them as an Assistance Animal.

3.3.4. Notification & Disclosure: To determine if an Assistance Animal is reasonable, HRS,  ODE, or UM Housing may inform affected individuals, such as roommates or those sharing common spaces, especially if they have allergies. If having an Assistance Animal is deemed reasonable, ODE/UM Housing may inform others who might be impacted. This helps prepare for the animal's presence and address potential issues in advance.

OWNER RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1. Local Laws and Ordinances. Owners are required to follow all city, county, state and local ordinances, rules, regulations, statutes, and University policies and procedures related to the possession and care of animals, as well as any other requirements for animals contained in agreements between the Owner and the University.

4.2. Care Owners are responsible for providing all necessary care (veterinary services, grooming, food, etc.) for their animals. Care also includes clean up and disposal of animal waste in a safe and sanitary manner.

4.3. Control Owners must be in control of their animals at all times. Animals must always be in a carrier or controlled by a leash or harness with the following exceptions:

1. When an animal is in the Owner’s University Housing assigned bedroom or single tenant apartment, or closed office space;
2. If an individual’s disability precludes the use of a restraint; or
3. If a Service Animal needs to be off leash in order to perform its job.

4.4. Damages Owners are responsible for all damages caused by their animals.

4.5. Inquiring About A Service Animal

Non-owners may not request that the Service Animal perform its task.

An Owner may only be asked the following questions about their Service Animal in order to help determine if the animal is a Service Animal and is thus allowed in the location:

1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
2. What task has the animal been trained to perform?

Additional questions about the owner’s disability or animal’s training may not be asked unless these questions are necessary in an unusual and particular situation, and both ODE and the University’s Office of Legal Counsel have been consulted prior to the posing of any such questions.

UNIVERSITY RIGHTS

5.1. Removal

The University, through its faculty and staff, may request that an Owner remove their animal, even when the animal is permitted on campus or not, if:

1. The animal is Not Under Control and the Owner is not taking steps to regain control;
2. The animal’s presence creates an unmanageable disturbance or interference with a University program or activity, or the University community;
3. The Owner or animal are in an area where they do not have approval to be;
4. There is a conflict between two animals approved to be on campus which could not be reasonably resolved by the Owners;
5. The animal is posing a legitimate threat to the health and safety of the public, its Owner, or itself; or
6. The animal’s presence results in a fundamental alteration of a University program or activity.

If an animal is removed, its Owner must be allowed to continue participating in that activity to the fullest extent allowed in that situation.

Depending on the circumstance, an animal may be permanently removed from campus.

5.2. Responsibility for Service or Assistance Animals

The University is not responsible for the care or supervision of Service, Service Animals in Training, Assistance, or Emotional Support Animals. In the event of an emergency or an Owner’s incapacity, the University will contact the listed emergency caretaker for the animal. In the event of a fire or building evacuation or a similar emergency, at the Owner’s University Housing residence, UM Housing will provide a list of registered Service, Service Animals in Training, Assistance, or Emotional Support Animals to emergency personnel. UM Housing bears no responsibility for evacuating or accounting for Service, Service Animals in Training, Assistance, or Emotion Support Animals in the event of a fire or building evacuation or a similar emergency.

5.3. Voluntary Registry

The University reserves the right to create and maintain a voluntary Service, Assistance and Companion Animal registry for lawful purposes, such as emergency or disaster planning.

PETS

6.1 Pets are permitted on campus grounds (i.e. not campus buildings) without any prior approval. Pets are not permitted in campus facilities.