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Students with Service Animals do not need authorization from SAS and are not required to register with SAS in order to use a Service Animal on campus. However, students with Service Animals are welcome to connect with SAS if they would like information about academic accommodations, services, or resources that may support their success.

Students interested in requesting use of a Support Animal on campus must register with SAS and meet with a SAS counselor to explore their request related to this accommodation.

Through an interactive process, SAS will review available and may require additional documentation and discuss disability-related barriers, accommodation needs, and whether use of a Support Animal is appropriate in the educational environment.

 

A Service Animal is trained to perform specific tasks or work that mitigate the impact of a person's disability.

Students with Service Animals:

• Are not required to apply for accommodations through SAS in order to use a Service Animal on campus.
• May choose to connect with SAS if they would like information about additional accommodations or services that may be available.

Service Animals support access through the tasks or work they are trained to perform.

Support Animals (sometimes called Comfort Animals or Emotional Support Animals) provide disability-related benefit through their presence.

Students requesting to use a Support Animal on campus must apply to SAS and participate in the SAS accommodation process before the animal may be authorized as an accommodation.

Support Animals mitigate disability-related impacts differently than Service Animals and are evaluated on an individualized basis through an interactive process with SAS.

Students requesting use of a Support Animal may also learn about additional accommodations and services that could support their access and success on campus.

Most students with Service Animals will be able to access campus programs, services, and activities without additional review. Students authorized to use a Support Animal should follow the accommodations process and any guidance provided by SAS regarding implementation.

In some situations, legitimate safety concerns, health and safety requirements, or essential course requirements may require additional discussion regarding the presence of a Service Animal or Support Animal in a particular setting.

Examples may include:

• Laboratory environments.
• Clinical, practicum, or field placement settings.
• Courses involving hazardous materials, equipment, or safety-sensitive activities.
• Situations where the presence of an animal may fundamentally alter the nature of a course, program, service, or activity.

Because each situation is unique, students, faculty, and SAS may need to work together to identify whether modifications, alternative approaches, or additional planning are appropriate.

Students are encouraged to contact SAS when questions arise regarding participation in a particular course, program, or campus environment.

Faculty and staff play an important role in supporting access while maintaining privacy, safety, and the essential requirements of college programs and services. Service Animals and Support Animals are subject to different requirements, and employees should avoid independently determining whether an animal may be present on campus. When questions arise, the information below can help guide an appropriate response.

Understanding Service Animals and Support Animals

Service Animals are generally permitted on campus and are not required to be registered through SAS. Service Animals are individually trained to perform work or tasks related to a person's disability. Students with Service Animals are not required to register with SAS, although they may choose to contact SAS to learn about additional accommodations, services, or resources that support their success.

Support Animals are different from Service Animals and provide disability-related benefit through their presence. Students requesting to use a Support Animal on campus must participate in the SAS accommodation process and receive authorization before the animal may be used as an accommodation.

If You Are Unsure Whether an Animal Is a Service Animal

If it is not readily apparent that an animal is trained to perform work or tasks related to a disability, employees may ask two limited questions:

1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

If the individual answers "Yes" and describes a trained task:
The animal may qualify as a Service Animal. Service Animals are generally permitted on campus and do not require authorization through SAS. Faculty and staff should allow access and should not request documentation, certification, registration, or information regarding the individual's disability.

If the individual indicates the animal provides comfort, emotional support, companionship, or identifies it as a Support Animal:

Support Animals follow a different accommodation process. Students requesting a Support Animal must work through SAS for authorization before the animal may be used as an accommodation on campus.

Faculty and Staff Should Not

• Ask about the nature of a person's disability.
• Request medical documentation.
• Require identification, certification, or registration for the animal.
• Ask the animal to demonstrate its trained task.

Questions About Support Animals

Support Animals require authorization before they may be used as a disability-related accommodation on campus. If an individual identifies an animal as an Emotional Support Animal or Support Animal, faculty and staff may ask whether the individual has been authorized to utilize the animal on campus.
Students authorized to use a Support Animal as an accommodation receive confirmation through Student Accessibility Services (SAS), and the accommodation will be listed as "Accompanied by Emotional Support Animal" on the student's accommodation form. If questions arise regarding implementation, faculty and staff should consult with SAS rather than independently determining access.

If the Student or Individual Does Not Have Authorization

Students should be referred to SAS to discuss the accommodation process and available options.

Employees and members of the public seeking authorization for a Support Animal on campus should be referred to Justin Crast, Risk Manager/ADA Coordinator at (760) 795-6866 or jcrast@miracosta.edu.

Safety, Health, and Essential Program Requirements

In some circumstances, legitimate safety concerns, health and safety requirements, or essential course requirements may require additional discussion regarding the presence of a Service Animal or Support Animal in a particular setting. Examples may include:

• Laboratory environments
• Clinical placements, practicums, or field experiences
• Courses involving hazardous materials or equipment
• Situations where the presence of an animal may fundamentally alter an essential requirement of a course, program, service, or activity

Faculty and staff may also encounter situations where another student, employee, or participant has an animal allergy or another disability-related concern. Employees should not independently exclude or deny access to an individual with a Service Animal or Support Animal. Instead, SAS and/or the Risk Manager/ADA Coordinator can work with those involved to explore individualized options that support access while maintaining health, safety, and essential program requirements.

Faculty and Staff Should Not Independently Deny Access or Make Determinations Regarding Service Animals or Support Animals Without Consultation

Faculty and staff who have questions regarding implementation, safety considerations, competing access needs, or possible fundamental alteration concerns are encouraged to consult with the SAS counselor listed on the student's accommodation form, SAS at (760) 795-6658 or sas@miracosta.edu, or Justin Crast, Risk Manager/ADA Coordinator, at (760) 795-6866 or jcrast@miracosta.edu.

Students and employees may find the following resources helpful: