The University of Southern Indiana will accept and consider requests for reasonable accommodation in University Housing at any time. The individual student making the accommodation request should make the request and provide appropriate supporting documentation to Disability Resources before moving into University Housing, generally at the time of housing application. However, if the accommodation request is made after the priority deadline, the University cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet the individual student’s accommodation needs during the first semester of occupancy.
To determine appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities residing within University Housing, it is often necessary for Disability Resources to obtain information about the nature of a student’s disability, its impact, and the student’s disability-related needs within the residential environment from the student’s doctor, mental health provider, or other medical professional.
- Apply and Contract for University Housing.
- Contact Disability Resources.
- Disability Resources will review the request and documentation and enter into an interactive process with the student. Staff may correspond, request additional information, ask more specific questions of the student, or request to meet with the student to discuss their needs.
- Disability Resources will inform the student and University Housing of any approved housing accommodations.
- The student will participate in the room selection process and attempt to self-select a space that meets their preferences and any approved accommodations (Visit New Students or Current Housing Residents for room selection and room renewal dates.)
- If the student is unable to self-select a space that meets their approved accommodations during the room selection process, they should contact University Housing at Living for support with identifying a housing assignment that meets their approved accommodations.
Note: This procedure includes Service and Emotional Support Animal accommodations.
| Priority Accommodation Deadline for Returning Students | Priority Accommodation Deadline for New Students |
| Fall semester - February 1 | Fall semester - May 1 |
| Spring semester - December 1 | Spring semester - December 1 |
| Summer terms - April 1 | Summer terms - April 1 |
Note: These deadlines include Service and Emotional Support Animal accommodation requests.
In previous years at USI, a student was able to receive accommodations once they registered with Disability Resources until the day they graduated. We realize that circumstances may change, and accommodations may need to be updated from year to year as student circumstances change. To ensure accommodations remain effective for each student, we are asking each individual student to complete the Accommodation Renewal Form each year that they will want to receive accommodations. This form will allow students to request accommodations they have received previously. Please contact Disability Resources to request an Accommodation Renewal Form. Completing this form by the accommodation deadlines will result in students being able to receive accommodations from the first day of classes during the Fall semester until the last day of the full summer term.
Disability Resources staff may need to meet with students individually to clarify or evaluate requests and will reach out if necessary. To make the best use of your accommodations, it is strongly recommended you fill out this form as soon as possible. You will not receive accommodations until this form is received. You are allowed to fill out this form at any given point in the semester, but remember that accommodations are not retroactive, so to make the most efficient use, please ask early! If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us.
Note: This procedure includes Service and Emotional Support Animal accommodations.
- Apply and Contract for University Housing.
- Contact Disability Resources to request the Accommodation Renewal Form.
- The student will participate in the room selection process and attempt to self-select a space that meets their preferences and any approved accommodations. (Visit New Students or Current Housing Residents for room selection and room renewal dates.)
- Follow dates on Priority Accommodation Deadlines for the Accommodation Renewal process.
Note: This procedure includes Service and Emotional Support Animal accommodations.
Emotional Support Animal Definition
An animal that provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified effects of a person’s disability.
Emotional Support Animal Request Process
- Contact USI Disability Resources regarding the ESA procedure. The office will email the student with an electronic form link to complete. Additionally, the email includes a PDF document that must be completed by the student's medical provider and returned to Disability Resources. It is important to make the provider aware that in addition to the verification form, additional information is required on the provider’s letter head, which is outlined on the form. The request is unable to be processed without both components being completed.
- The ESA committee meets weekly to review the requests and ensure all documentation is present.
- After the request has been reviewed and meets the criteria, a representative from the Disability Resources office will complete an intake appointment with the student to assess their eligibility for an ESA on campus. If the student is approved, Disability Resources will send an email notification to the Housing office.
- Upon receiving approval for the ESA from Housing, the student is sent an email containing instructions on how to register the ESA on the Housing Portal.
- If the student plans to bring a cat or dog, Housing mandates the submission of rabies vaccine documentation. The student is required to upload this documentation to the Housing Portal using the account created for the ESA.
- Housing is notified by email when a student registers their ESA and uploads vaccine documentation. After verifying the documentation, Housing contacts the student via email to arrange an in-person meeting.
- During the meeting with Housing, the student will review the University's animal guidelines, initialing and signing the document. Staff will also review specific aspects of the policy that are crucial for students to be aware of, such as the requirement that the ESA cannot be left unattended in the room for 12 hours or more. In such cases, the student must either take the ESA with them or make arrangements for boarding. Additionally, the ESA must be crated whenever the student is not in the room, such as during work or classes.
- After the in-person meeting with Housing is concluded, the student is then permitted to have the animal reside with them in their designated living space.
Note: Students must follow the Priority Accommodation Deadlines when requesting to have an ESA or service animal in University Housing.
Students with service animals are not obligated to register with Disability Resources or the University. However, if a student living on campus needs a service animal to reside with them on campus, the student must contact Housing before bringing the animal.
Service Animal Definition
The animal is a service animal as defined by current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and State of Indiana regulations. Under these laws, a service animal is defined as an animal that is specifically trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a physical, sensory, psychiatric/mental or intellectual disability; and the work or tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability.
Animals that only provide crime deterrent effects, emotional support, wellbeing, comfort or companionship do not fall under the legal definition of service animal. The University reserves the right at any time to ask if the animal is required because of a disability and what specific work or task the animal has been trained to perform. The University also reserves the right to request that the animal be removed from the property if it does not meet the legal definition of service animal, if the handler fails to keep it under appropriate control or if it is not housebroken. An animal meeting the complete and proper definition of service animal will otherwise be permitted anywhere on campus that is typically open to students and visitors.
Service Animal Request Process
- Student should contact Housing and Residence Life that they have a need for a service animal to reside in their designated living space.
- Housing will send the student an email with instructions on how to register the service animal on the Housing Portal.
- The University is committed to respecting and protecting the confidentiality of all students with disabilities. However, given the number of staff persons who are responsible for operating and maintaining campus housing, Housing and Residence Life does share limited information about the presence of a service animal with University staff on a need-to-know basis.
- Housing contacts the student via email to arrange an in-person meeting. During the meeting with Housing, the student will review the University's animal guidelines, initialing and signing the document.
Note: Students must follow the Priority Accommodation Deadlines when requesting to have a service animal in University Housing.