Applies to: (examples; Faculty,Staff, Students, etc)
Faculty , Staff , Students , Contractors_Vendors
Faculty , Staff , Students , Contractors_Vendors
This document explains University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis' policy toward animals utilized for disability purposes. It is the purpose of these guidelines to articulate the conditions under which such animals are permitted access to University grounds and facilities.
Applies to University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis faculty, staff, students, and visitors.
Term |
Definition |
Service Animal |
As defined by Title II and Title III of the ADA: A service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Tasks performed can include, among other things, pulling a wheelchair, retrieving dropped items, alerting a person to a sound, reminding a person to take medication, or pressing an elevator button. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA. A psychiatric service animal is a dog that is individually trained for people with an emotional or psychiatric disability so severe that it substantially limits his/her ability to perform at least one major life task. PSDs are considered service animals. |
Emotional Support animal |
An emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that has been prescribed for a person by his/her licensed therapist (a licensed mental health professional) in a properly formatted letter. This letter should state that the person is determined to be emotionally or psychiatrically disabled and that the presence of the animal is necessary for the disabled person's mental health. An emotional support animal can sometimes be referred to as a support animal, assistance animal, helper animals, or assist animals. |
Individual with a Disability |
An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. |
I. Service Animal
a. University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis welcomes the presence of trained service animals assisting individuals with disabilities on its campus in areas open to the public, consistent with the provisions of this policy and applicable law. A service animal is generally permitted to be on University property in any place where the animal's handler is permitted to be, although there are specific locations and activities on University property where all animals are prohibited for health and safety reasons. Examples of such prohibited areas, depending on the activities, may include but are not limited to the following:
i. Research facilities where the animal may compromise the integrity of research
ii. Mechanical rooms/custodial closets
iii. Areas where protective clothing is necessary
iv. Areas where there is a danger to the service animal or handler
v. Exceptions to restricted areas may be granted on a case-by-case basis by the Office of Environmental and Health Safety.
b. A service animal shall have a harness, leash or other tether, unless the handler’s disability precludes use of such tether, in which case the animal must otherwise be under the control of the handler (i.e. voice controls or other effective means). Members of the University community and visitors are prohibited from interfering in any way with a service animal or the duties it performs.
II. Emotional Support Animal
a. An Emotional Support Animal, or otherwise named animal, owned by an individual with a disability who lives in a residence hall on University property is allowed to live with the individual and go with him or her into any public space where residents are authorized to be in the residence hall. Emotional Support animals are not allowed in any other buildings on University property, nor are they allowed in other controlled spaces on campus.
b. An emotional support animal shall have a harness, leash or other tether, unless the handler's disability precludes use of such tether, in which case the animal must otherwise be under the control of the handler (i.e. voice controls or other effective means). Members of the University community and visitors are prohibited from interfering in any way with an emotional support animal or the duties it performs.
III. Fair Housing Act
a. University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis will make reasonable accommodations for service animals and emotional support animals.
For additional information, please visit:
If you are a student:
Student Success Center
https://my.stlcop.edu/dept/office_studentsurvices/SitePages/Home.aspx
If you are a faculty or staff member:
Office of Human Resources
https://my.stlcop.edu/hr/Pages/default.aspx
Any individual who feels that they have been unfairly denied the ability to bring a service animal onto University property, or who feels that they have been unfairly denied the ability to have an assistance animal in university housing may file a grievance with Human Resources.
Position/Office/Department |
Responsibility |
Residential Life |
Notifying residents of service animal or emotional support animal of a student in the residence hall. |
EH&S |
Support in making reasonable accommodations for the student with a service animal or emotional support animal. |
Disability Services |
Assistance with students with ADA concerns or those requiring emotional support animals to reside with them on campus. |
Counseling Center |
Review and approval of requests to bring emotional support animals to campus. |
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Housing Act
UHSP Student Handbook
UHSP Faculty and Staff Affirmative Action Plan
Name |
Contact Information |
Carlin Harp |
314-446-8133 |
Rebecca Jones |
314-446-8352 |