Purpose and Scope
This policy fosters the orderly operation of the College, the safety and well-being of students, employees, visitors, and vendors, and compliance with applicable laws related to the accommodation of persons with disabilities.
Policy Statement
The Board of Trustees of Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) recognizes the importance of Service Animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and its amendments and the broader category of Assistance Animals under the Fair Housing Act that provide physical and/or emotional support to individuals with disabilities. TC3 is committed to allowing individuals with disabilities the use of a Service Animal on campus to facilitate their full-participation and equal access to the College’s programs and activities. Tompkins Cortland is also committed to allowing Assistance Animals necessary to provide individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy TC3’s residence life program. State and local leash and animal vaccination and licensing laws and ordinances are applicable to the College’s facilities and grounds.
Definitions
Service animal – a dog (or rarely, a miniature horse) individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals who are hearing impaired to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items. Service animals are allowed by law in all areas the disabled person is allowed, with exceptions limited by circumstances involving actual safety. A separate determination may be made as to whether a miniature horse, so trained, can be accommodated by the program or facility.
Assistance animal (includes support animal, or emotional support animal) – an animal that is prescribed or otherwise documented by a healthcare or mental health professional as treatment for a disabled individual and that is beneficial in alleviating one or more identifiable symptoms or effects of that individual’s disability. Unlike Service Animals, Assistance animals go through an approval process. Approved assistance animals are only permitted within the owner’s on-campus housing agreement, unless additional permission is received based on documented need for other campus facilities through an appropriate accommodation process.
Removal of Service or Assistance Animals
The owner may be directed to remove an animal that is unruly or disruptive (e.g. barking, jumping on or lunging at people, defecating indoors, etc.). If the improper behavior happens repeatedly, the owner may be prohibited from bringing the animal into College facilities or events until the owner can demonstrate appropriate steps taken to mitigate such behavior. Any animal that exhibits aggressive (including growling) or unsafe behavior (including urinating and/or defecating in any building) may be prohibited from College facilities or events. Repeated violations may result in immediate removal of the animal from the College and potential disciplinary action.
The College may remove an authorized animal when the animal poses an actual direct threat to the health or safety of others; the animal’s presence results in a fundamental alteration of the College’s program, service, or activity; the owner does not comply with the responsibilities outlined; or, the animal or its presence creates an unmanageable disturbance or interference with the community.
Inappropriate animal behaviors should be reported to Campus Police.
Additional Process Information
The office of Access and Equity Services provides process and procedures for the implementation of this policy for students. The office of Human Resources provides process and procedures for the implementation of this policy for employees, visitors, and vendors.
Other Animals
Other animals are not permitted on campus, except the Administration may establish a process to permit an animal or animals for a limited period for a specific educational program, activity, or service purpose. Routine or regular inclusion of any domestic animal may only be approved for vaccinated animals who are specially trained (e.g., therapy dogs or cats). This prohibition on other animals specifically excludes animals required for approved curricular coursework.
Resolution
- 2024-2025-52
History
- January 16, 2020 - Resolution
- 2019-2020-30
Policy Reference Number
- CPCO-05-BOT