Dartmouth College supports students with disabilities by allowing emotional support animals (ESAs) in University housing as a reasonable accommodation. This policy, managed through Student Accessibility Services (SAS) and the Office of Residential Life, ensures equal access to housing while maintaining campus safety for all residents.
Legal Framework
Dartmouth College’s Emotional Support Animal (ESA) policy is shaped by federal and state laws designed to protect individuals with disabilities, ensuring they have equal access to educational opportunities and housing accommodations. The key legal frameworks influencing this policy include:
The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on disability and requires reasonable accommodations in housing, including the right to keep an ESA even in buildings that otherwise prohibit pets. Under the FHA, Dartmouth College, through Student Accessibility Services and the Office of Residential Life, makes exceptions to pet policies when an ESA is necessary for a student with a disability to have equal opportunity to use and enjoy college housing. This dual-approval process ensures compliance with federal housing requirements while maintaining the integrity of residential communities.
The ADA distinguishes between Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals. Under the ADA, Dartmouth permits service animals to accompany students with disabilities in all areas of college facilities where students are allowed to go. However, ESAs, which provide emotional support through companionship rather than performing specific trained tasks, are not granted the same public access rights. At Dartmouth, ESAs are permitted only in residential living spaces and the path of travel to the student’s room, while service animals have full campus access.
Section 504 prohibits disability discrimination in federally funded educational institutions and requires reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Dartmouth complies with Section 504 by providing an accommodation process through Student Accessibility Services, which evaluates requests for ESAs on a case-by-case basis to ensure students have equal access to housing and educational opportunities while maintaining appropriate safety and community standards.
In addition to federal regulations, New Hampshire state laws and City of Hanover ordinances may also influence ESA policies at Dartmouth College. New Hampshire RSA 354-A (State Law Against Discrimination) provides additional protections for individuals with disabilities requiring ESAs in housing and requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations, including potentially waiving breed, weight, and species limits. Uniquely, New Hampshire law also recognizes service animals in-training with the same rights as fully trained service animals. Dartmouth College ensures that its ESA policy is in full compliance with relevant state and local regulations, providing a supportive and safe environment for all students.
Fair Housing Act (FHA)
The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on disability and requires reasonable accommodations in housing, including the right to keep an ESA even in buildings that otherwise prohibit pets. Under the FHA, Dartmouth College, through Student Accessibility Services and the Office of Residential Life, makes exceptions to pet policies when an ESA is necessary for a student with a disability to have equal opportunity to use and enjoy college housing. This dual-approval process ensures compliance with federal housing requirements while maintaining the integrity of residential communities.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA distinguishes between Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals. Under the ADA, Dartmouth permits service animals to accompany students with disabilities in all areas of college facilities where students are allowed to go. However, ESAs, which provide emotional support through companionship rather than performing specific trained tasks, are not granted the same public access rights. At Dartmouth, ESAs are permitted only in residential living spaces and the path of travel to the student’s room, while service animals have full campus access.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Section 504 prohibits disability discrimination in federally funded educational institutions and requires reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Dartmouth complies with Section 504 by providing an accommodation process through Student Accessibility Services, which evaluates requests for ESAs on a case-by-case basis to ensure students have equal access to housing and educational opportunities while maintaining appropriate safety and community standards.
State and Local Laws
In addition to federal regulations, New Hampshire state laws and City of Hanover ordinances may also influence ESA policies at Dartmouth College. New Hampshire RSA 354-A (State Law Against Discrimination) provides additional protections for individuals with disabilities requiring ESAs in housing and requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations, including potentially waiving breed, weight, and species limits. Uniquely, New Hampshire law also recognizes service animals in-training with the same rights as fully trained service animals. Dartmouth College ensures that its ESA policy is in full compliance with relevant state and local regulations, providing a supportive and safe environment for all students.
Who Qualifies for an Emotional Support Animal
Assistance Animals (ESAs)
Students with disabilities may keep an ESA in their University housing if the animal provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of their disability. The relationship between the disability and the need for the ESA must be documented, and approval must be obtained from SAS and Residential Life.
Service Animals
Students with disabilities may have a Service Animal in their housing and other campus venues if the animal is trained to perform tasks directly related to the student’s disability. Service Animals do not require prior approval but students may register with SAS.
Application Process for an ESA
Step 1: Submit Application to SAS
Submit your ESA request to Student Accessibility Services along with required documentation. If your disability or need for an ESA is not obvious, provide documentation from a licensed physician or mental health professional including a psychiatrist, social worker, or other qualified professional. Documentation must demonstrate:
- The individual qualifies as a person with a disability (has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities)
- The support animal is necessary to afford equal opportunity to use and enjoy housing and more fully engage as a Dartmouth student
Step 2: SAS Review and Part One Approval
Step 3: Complete Approved Animal Form
Step 4: Final Approval from Residential Life
Responsibilities of ESA Owners
- Comply with all University rules regarding noise, safety, disruption, and cleanliness. Ensure the ESA does not create persistent odor, noise, or disturbance.
- Ensure the animal is housebroken and kept under control by a harness, leash, or other tether when outside your room.
- In shared living spaces, keep the animal in an appropriate container when not present with it.
- Feed and walk the animal, and dispose of its waste appropriately.
- Comply with all laws pertaining to animal licensing, vaccination, and owner identification.
- Provide Dartmouth with emergency contact information for two individuals in Hanover who can care for the animal if you are unavailable. This information must be updated each term.
- Pay for any damage caused by the animal to the same extent Dartmouth would charge any person for damage they cause.
- ESA accommodations must be renewed annually by August 1st by resubmitting the ESA Verification Form to SAS.
Conflicting Needs and Resolutions
Dartmouth College is committed to accommodating both ESA owners and other residents who may have conflicting needs or disabilities affected by the presence of animals, such as allergies or other conditions. In order to accommodate the physical needs of residents with allergies or other conditions that rise to the level of disability, housing for residents with ESAs will be identified from the available housing base, which may result in fewer options for residents with ESAs than those without. Students with disability-related concerns should contact SAS or the appropriate official.
Important Considerations
- Support animals are limited to residential living spaces and not permitted in other campus areas, unlike service animals which are allowed where students are permitted to go.
- ESAs may be restricted from certain areas such as laboratories for health and safety reasons.
- Dartmouth will not require surcharges or fees for ESAs, but students may be charged for damage caused by the animal.
- Dartmouth may exclude an ESA if it is out of control and effective action is not taken, if it is not housebroken, or if it poses a direct threat to health or safety of others.
- In July 2025, Dartmouth introduced a comprehensive new assistance animal policy that distinguishes between five categories: service animals, service animals in-training, emotional support animals, therapy animals, and physical assistance animals.
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