An assistance animal, also referred to as an emotional support animal, is an animal that provides a therapeutic benefit to a person with a disability. An assistance animal is recognized as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability under the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA, 42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.). No special training is required for an animal to be considered an assistance animal, but there must be an identifiable relationship or nexus between the person’s disability and the assistance provided by the animal.
Visit the University Housing Service and Assistance Animal Guidelines for more details on policies and procedures.