Emotional Support Animals
Briar Cliff University has adopted an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) policy to set forth the procedures for requesting a support animal and the responsibilities of students who have an ESA in University Residence Halls.
An ESA is an animal providing emotional or other support to ameliorate one or more identified symptoms of effects of an existing disability. An ESA is not a "service animal" as defined by the ADA Amendment Act; nor is it a pet.
ESA application and documentation must be completed each year a support animal is requested. Submission of an ESA application must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the student’s desired approval date.
Emotional Support Animal Policy
Required Documentation
| Emotional Support Animal Provider Documentation |
|
For a student to be granted the ability to have an emotional support animal at Briar Cliff University, they must submit this completed form filled out by a licensed health care provider prescribing the need for an emotional support animal.
Provider Documentation Form
|
| Licensed Health Care Provider Official Referral Letter |
| The person’s health care provider, who is familiar with the professional literature concerning the assistive and/or therapeutic benefits of ESAs for people with disabilities, must submit a signed letter on professional letterhead, expressing the following:
1. The provider’s recommendation based on the person’s condition.
2. The provider’s opinion that the condition qualifies as a disability under federal law, including the major life activities which are substantially limited by the disability.
3. The provider must give their professional opinion of how the person’s documented disability relates to the necessity of the animal’s presence in university housing.
4. The provider’s description of what function(s) the animal will specifically provide.
|
| Emotional Support Animal Veterinary Documentation |
|
For a student to be granted the ability to have an emotional support animal at Briar Cliff University, they must submit this completed form filled out by a licensed veterinarian.
Veterinary Documentation Form
|
| Briar Cliff University Emotional Support Animal Roommate Agreement Form |
|
For a student to be granted permission to have an emotional support animal at Briar Cliff University, they must submit this completed form filled out by their roommate(s), one form per roommate, agreeing to live with an emotional support animal.
Roommate Agreement Form
|
| Emergency Contact Consent for ESA |
|
For a student to be granted permission to have an emotional support animal at Briar Cliff University, they must submit this completed form filled out by a person who agrees to be the emergency contact. If needed, this person agrees to pick up and care for the emotional support animal until the owner or animal can return to campus. This person must not be another BCU resident who resides in university housing.
Emergency Contact Form
|
These forms and documentation will be required to complete the ESA Application.
ESA Application