Disability Housing Requests

The Department of Housing recommends all students- especially incoming freshmen- appraise themselves of the goals and benefits of participation in the University's Residence Life Program. Residence Life exposes students to a community experience which involves sharing, consideration, teamwork and activities which complement a student's academic program.

As with other accommodations, housing requests are evaluated on an individual basis, with regard to the documentation provided and the impact of disability upon the student within the residential campus environment. Also to be considered are potential limitations for meeting the housing needs of students with disabilities (available space, timeliness and order of requests and commitments by contract with other students).

Requests for private rooms as an accommodation for disability-based solely on the desire for a quiet, distraction-free place to study are rarely granted. Since residence hall life involves large numbers of students participating in activities and sharing hallways, facilities and other resources, a private room would not provide appreciable quiet beyond that achieved with a shared room assignment.

Procedure

Accommodative housing requests should be presented- in writing- to Disability Support Services. Requests must include the following information:

1. Documentation — on letterhead — of the disability that is the basis for consideration including:
   • Date (most recent evaluation must be submitted)
   • Diagnostic statement
   • Criteria for diagnosis (including tests used and their results)
   • Medications, services, assistive devices prescribed to reduce the impact of or provide care for the condition
   • Credentials of the professional(s) making the diagnosis
     
2. The evaluator must include an assessment of the disability's impact on the student in a residential university environment.
   
3. A specific description by the evaluator of the desired residential adjustment (alternatives, if any, may also be listed for consideration)
   
4. Consequences to the student of not receiving the required housing arrangement
   
5. Students who document a disability-related requirement for private housing accommodation will be charged at the semi-private rate for the residence hall to which they are assigned.
   
6. If the student requires the services of a personal attendant, the documentation should indicate if the attendant would be residential (students are responsible for scheduling and financial arrangements for their personal attendants including campus housing and meal plan costs).
   
7. At the point of contracting for University-managed housing, students must notify the Department of Housing if they will be accompanied by a service animal.
   
8. Students whose disabilities require the installation of certain technology for safety purposes (for example, visual fire alarms for the deaf) must give the University notice of these needs within at least 60 days prior to housing check-in.
   
9. Because of housing contract deadlines for continuing students, as well as facility and roommate assignments for enrolling students, requests for disability-related housing needs should be received no later than the annual published deadline for housing sign-up.
   
10. The student's phone number and/or electronic mail address

Every effort will be made to respond- in writing- with a decision which allows the student adequate time and resources to prepare for his/her living and learning experiences at the University.