Emotional Support Animals are allowed in residence with students if the animal is necessary for them to have equal access to housing, while still ensuring safety for all members of the Whittier community. Students must reach out to Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to request the ESA Request Packet.
An ESA is an animal prescribed by a qualified, licensed professional (e.g., therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist) as part of an individual’s treatment plan in order to bring comfort and minimize the negative symptoms of the person’s emotional or psychological disability. ESAs may provide emotional support, calming, stability, or other kinds of emotional assistance. ESAs are also known as comfort or companion animals, but do not perform work or tasks that would qualify them as “service animals” under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Dogs and cats are the most common types of ESA. Both are generally required to be at least 10 months old. While ESAs are not limited to these types, animals with a diet of other living animals are not permitted as ESAs.
Students requesting an ESA should submit an Emotional Support Animal Request Form, which can be obtained by contacting SAS. The steps are as follows:
Students applying for an ESA accommodation should begin the process no less than 45 days prior to moving into college housing. SAS will consider requests for reasonable accommodations in college housing at any time; however, if an ESA request is submitted less than 45 days before the start of the academic term, SAS cannot guarantee a determination will be made before the student’s move-in date.
In determining whether to approve an ESA for residence on campus, the College will consider the following:
Students approved to have an ESA in the residence halls are expected to abide by the following guidelines:
Whittier College reserves the right to revoke a student’s approval to keep an ESA in college housing immediately if the animal poses a risk to the Whittier community. Failure to comply with the ESA approval process and Housing & Residential guidelines may result in disciplinary action pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct.
The College reserves the right to update these policies at any time, as needed.