Housing Accommodations

SHC recognizes the importance of providing reasonable accommodations in its housing policies, and accommodation procedures where necessary, for individuals with disabilities to use and enjoy College spaces, including housing. Student Accessibility Resources (SAR) Office works in partnership with The Office of Residence Life to ensure equal access to all students within College housing.

Individuals with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation, including the allowance of an assistance or service animal in College housing. However, no animal may be kept in College housing at any time prior to the individual receiving approval as a reasonable accommodation pursuant to the information found in the following location: The Student Handbook – Residence Life Policies – Pets. SHC and the student requesting a reasonable accommodation will engage in an interactive process to find the best accommodation to meet the student’s needs on a case-by-case basis. The procedure for making accommodation requests is outlined below.

General information

  • Student Accessibility Resources (SAR) Office may contact the medical professional who provides the disability documentation to obtain additional information or discuss alternative accommodations. SAR may also consult with practitioners in the Counseling Center to discuss proposed accommodations on a limited basis. SAR and Residence Life consider all accommodation requests on an individualized, case-by-case basis. However, as students navigate this process, they should note the following:

    • Accommodation recommendations approved by SAR are based on the disability-related need (for example, housing on the ground floor, housing with a low student-bathroom ratio, a wheelchair accessible room/bathroom). Accommodations do not require Residential Life to place a student in a specific residence hall if multiple buildings meet the stated need.
    • While SAR reviews and implements all requests on a case-by-case basis, SHC residential facilities typically do not include rooms with a private bathroom.
    • SHC residential facilities include a very limited number of single-occupancy bedrooms – students still share a unit with roommates in other bedrooms. Access to a single bedroom will only be approved as an accommodation in cases where it is clearly documented that a student cannot live on campus without this accommodation.
  • SAR does not share the student’s diagnosis or other details of the student’s disability documentation with Residence Life, unless specifically requested by the student or required to implement the approved accommodation.
  • Please Note: Residential housing is not a distraction-reduced environment. Accordingly, students are not granted housing accommodations for learning or attention disabilities. Students who need distraction-reduced study environments should consider submitting a Student Accessibility Application.

Students with environmental allergens will be permitted to purchase and bring allergen-proof fabric covers for bedding, a dehumidifier and/or HEPA filter air purifier. Generally, housing accommodations are not granted for environmental allergens. Students with allergies are encouraged to visit the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website for specific tips & support at: www.aaaai.org.

Important Deadlines

  • Deadlines to submit the Housing Accommodation Requests to Student Accessibility Resources:
    • Fall – May 1
    • Spring – November 1
  • *Late requests will be considered but cannot be guaranteed. Students should expect an average of a 30 days review period for animal requests to allow adequate coordination between SAR and Residence Life and proper notification of roommates.
      
  • *Animals should not be brought to campus until a final approval is received. Students could be subject to fines for unapproved animals per SHC Residence Life policies and procedures.

Procedure for Non-Animal Accommodations within Housing

  1. Complete the Housing contract. 
  2. Submit completed Student Accessibility Application.
  3. Submit required documentation that contains the following:
    • The professional’s diagnosis, evaluation, recommendations and other information should be typed on the professional’s letterhead, which include the name, title, dates of treatment, signature, license number and/or certification number.
    • The professional providing the documentation must have the necessary qualifications to diagnose and treat the student for the specific disability.
    • The diagnosis of the disability must be clearly stated, explained, and specific.
    • Documentation must be no more than three to five years old. Some exceptions may apply for students with physical disabilities.
    • Documentation prepared by professionals must provide a diagnosis of the medical/mental health condition, explain any functional limitations the condition will impose for the student in an academic setting and provide recommendations for reasonable accommodations.
      1. Please NOTE:
         
        • IEP’s, 504 Plans, and Doctor’s prescription notepads are not acceptable but can be used for supplemental information only.
        • A student is responsible for providing documentation that supports their request for academic adjustments. It is important that the documentation clearly establishes that the student has a disability as defined by federal regulations and that the documentation clearly supports the individual’s request for accommodations.
        • SAR will require additional or new documentation if the original documentation presented is outdated, vague, or incomplete.
  4. Contact Student Accessibility Resources (SAR) Office with any questions at accessibility@shc.edu during this time.
  5. Students will be informed of the final determination within 30 days after the submission of a completed application packet (containing the application & all necessary documentation).

    Procedure for Animal Accommodations within Housing

Students requesting a Service or Assistance Animal for campus Housing, will need to:

  1. Complete the Housing contract.
  2. Submit completed Student Accessibility Application.
  3. Besides the form, students will need to include relevant documentation that includes:
    •  Animal Records (that include owner information, photo of pet, species, breed, weight of animal, color, name of animal, age, gender, evidence of spay/neuter, proof of vaccinations/good health, etc.).
       
    • The professional’s diagnosis, evaluation, recommendations and other information should be typed on the professional’s letterhead, which include the name, title, dates of treatment, signature, license number and/or certification number.
    • The professional providing the documentation must have the necessary qualifications to diagnose and treat the student for the specific disability.
    • The diagnosis of the disability must be clearly stated, explained, and specific.
    • Documentation must be no more than three to five years old. Some exceptions may apply for students with physical disabilities.
    • Documentation prepared by professionals must provide a diagnosis of the medical/mental health condition, explain any functional limitations the condition will impose for the student in an academic/residential setting and provide recommendations for reasonable accommodations.
      • Please NOTE:
         
        • IEP’s, 504 Plans, and Doctor’s prescription notepads are not acceptable but can be used for supplemental information only.
        • A student is responsible for providing documentation that supports their request for academic adjustments. It is important that the documentation clearly establishes that the student has a disability as defined by federal regulations and that the documentation clearly supports the individual’s request for accommodations.
        • SAR will require additional or new documentation if the original documentation presented is outdated, vague, or incomplete.
  4. Once the Accommodation Request, medical documents, and Animal Records are reviewed, SAR will meet with the student to review the owner Rights and Responsibilities which will need to be signed by the student and must include the listing of at least one emergency contact that lives off campus.
  5. SAR will then notify Residence Life staff of the accommodation approval.
  6. Residence Life staff will contact roommates (if applicable) and determine if there are any conflicting medical conditions that would be impacted by the presence of an animal.
  7. Residence Life staff will notify the student via email once they are approved to bring the animal to campus.
  8. Please NOTE: Students will be required to submit a request for the animal to return to campus each Academic year.  Students will also be required to submit new vet records proving receipt of regular preventative veterinary care each academic year.
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