The university acknowledges that pets are important to many individuals. However, the presence of animals can pose health, sanitation and safety challenges that detract from the university’s academic mission. As a result, the general rule is that animals, including pets, are prohibited from the indoor spaces of the university, at university events, and in university-owned or university-rented vehicles. Exceptions are stated below:
- Service animals: A service animal is an animal that is trained to work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, as defined by the university’s Policy on Assistance Animals. As a general rule, the only animals allowed to accompany individuals in the university’s indoor spaces (e.g. classrooms, library, and cafeteria), at university events and in university vehicles are service animals. Service animals may also be present in the outdoor spaces of the university, as needed to serve the individual with the disability.
- Approved emotional support and therapy animals in on-campus housing: Approved emotional support and therapy animals as defined by the university’s Policy on Assistance Animals may be present in their owners’ assigned residence hall rooms or apartments. As a general rule, emotional support animals or therapy animals are not allowed in the university’s other indoor spaces (i.e. classrooms, library, and cafeteria), at university events, and in university-owned or university-rented vehicles.
- Animals present for instructional or academic purposes: Animals that are required for instructional or academic purposes that have been approved by the university’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). These animals may only be present in locations approved by the IACUC.
Notwithstanding the exceptions above, the university may prohibit the presence of animals including service animals from certain locations on campus due to health and safety restrictions. Individuals must comply with signage indicating that animals are prohibited and with the directions of university officials.
Individuals may bring animals that are not service animals to the outside spaces of the university for short periods of time (e.g. dog walking) as long as: the individual removes all animal waste from campus immediately; the individual provides constant supervision of the animal; the individual retains control of the animal at all times; the animal is properly licensed and tagged as required by law and local ordinance; the presence of the animal does not disrupt the educational process or university operations; the animal is restrained by a leash, a harness or is within a carrier at all times; and the individual is accompanied by one animal at a time.
The university may remove or cause to be removed any animal that is a nuisance or poses a threat to students, employees, visitors or university operations or property. The university may also restrict a specific animal from university property based on any confirmed threatening or territorial behavior or if the individual bringing the animal to campus fails to comply with the requirements of this policy or other university policies.
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