Service animals may accompany students, employees, and visitors with disabilities to all Missouri State University events, activities, and locations. Local, state, and federal laws regulate the use of services animals at Missouri State University locations and/or events.

Policy Statement

Missouri State University is committed to accommodating individuals with disabilities who use a service animal while on campus.

Definitions

Service Animal - Any animal individually trained to do work for or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. Examples include a guide dog, hearing dog, and an animal that has been trained to assist a person with mobility or health impairment in performing tasks such as carrying, fetching, opening doors, and ringing doorbells. A service animal is not a pet.

Therapy Animal - A therapy animal does not assist an individual with a disability in the activities of daily living and generally does not accompany a person with a disability all the time.

Pet - a domesticated animal kept for pleasure or companionship.

Individual with a disability - a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, including but not limited to walking, talking, seeing, breathing, or hearing.

Partner/Handler - A person with a disability using a service animal is called a partner; a person assisting a person with a disability and the service animal is called a handler.

NOTE: Pets and therapy animals are generally not permitted in Missouri State University facilities. Requests for exceptions to this general rule must be submitted to the responsible administrator prior to the event/activity, and will be reviewed/decided on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility and Compliance

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, service animals are welcome in buildings on campus and may attend any class, meeting, or other event. If requested, the partner/handler must show proof that the animal meets the licensing requirements of the city of Springfield, Missouri or the home city or state of the partner/handler. The service animal must be in good health and the partner/handler must take preventative measures for flea and odor control. The University may ask if the service animal is trained to perform services and whether the animal is able to perform the services and the nature of the services and relatedness to the disability.

Notification Requirement/Check-In

If accommodation is requested, the partner/handler must notify the appropriate person of the presense of a service animal on campus. The appropriate person will vary depending on the event/program. For student accommodations, notify Disability Services at (417) 836-4192 (voice) or (417) 836-6792 (TTY). For employment activities, notify the Office for Equity and Diversity at (417) 836-4252 (voice) or (417) 8363257 (TTY). In making its determinations for accommodations, the University engages in an interactive process with the individual requesting the accommodation.

If accommodation is requested at a special event/program, including those open to the general public, the partner/handler attending special events/programs must notify the event/program facilitator in advance for any requested accommodation.

If it is unclear whether or not the animal is a service animal rather than a pet, the partner/handler may be asked about the services provided by the animal. Exceptions to this policy shall be directed to the above reference individuals as well.

Behavior of Service Animals

The supervision of a service animal is solely the responsibility of his or her partner/handler. The animal must be  under partner/handler control at all times. The animal must be as unobtrusive as possible. Injuries to or caused by the service animal must be reported to the appropriate person as outlined above.

Exclusions from campus: Service/assistance animals may be removed or restricted at a Missouri State University location or event for reasons of disruption, health, cleanliness, and safety or when it would cause a fundamental alteration to University activities. For example, a student/handler will be asked to remove the animal from the facility or event if the animal is ill and/or when that animal's behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of other persons. Infractions will be handled on an individual basis.

Relief Areas

Relief areas on campus include the nearest grassy areas outdoors. The partner/handler is responsible for cleaning up after the animal, including voided waste. If a person with a disability cannot physically clean up after their service animal, the partner/handler may request an exception to this rule. Exceptions to this rule will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Areas of Access

The service animal must be permitted to accompany the individual with a disability to all areas of campus where students, employees, or members of the public are normally allowed to go. An individual with a service animal may not be segregated from others.

However, the University may prohibit the use of service animals in certain locations due to health or safety restrictions, where service animals may be in danger, or where their use may compromise the integrity of research due to the presence of chemicals and/or organisms. Such restrictions may include, but are not limited to the following areas: research laboratories, classrooms with demonstration/research animals, areas where protective clothing is required, wood shops and metal/machine shops, electrical shops, mechanical rooms, custodial closets, and nuclear research areas. Exceptions to restricted areas may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Residence Hall Conditions

With regard to University Housing, students will service animals are not automatically assigned to a private room. Students with service animals will be matched with potential roommates to whom contact has been made to prevent possible incompatibilities such as allergies or other concerns. If a private room is requested and approved, the standard private room rate will apply (additional one-half time the applicable room rate).

A specific exercise location for the service animal will be established around the assigned residence hall. In addition, any damages caused by a service animal (e.g., room furnishings, roommate belongings, common area rugs, etc.) will be the responsibility of the student/handler contracted for University housing. Service animals may not be fed using food/scraps from any dining center.

Liability

The partner/handler of an animal is personally responsible for any damages to a facility or sponsored event.

Conflicting Disabilities

If a person has a disabling condition that involves an allergic reaction to animals, they may make a complaint to the University's Office for Equity and Diversity at (417) 836-4252 (voice) or (417) 836-3257 (TTY) if common sense accommodations are unsatisfactory. Ther person making the complaint must provide supporting medical documentation to support that complaint. Action will be taken to consider the needs of both the complainant and the partner/handler to resolve the problem as efficiently and expeditiously as possible.

Grievance Procedure

The Office for Equity and Diversity is charged with investigating complaints of discrimination or harassment, including complaints regarding implementation of this policy. They place a strong emphasis on resolving complaints informally in a fair, prompt, and confidential manner. If the issue is not resolved, then formal procedures are available.

For more information or to make a complaint, contact:

Office for Equity and Diversity

Siceluff Hall 296

Missouri State University

901 S. National Avenue

Springfield, MO 65897

Phone: (417) 836-4252

Fax: (417) 836-3055

TTY: (417) 836-3257

Email: equity@missouristate.edu

www.missouristate.edu/equity/10537.htm