Service Animals

It is the policy of Boise State University to provide individuals with disabilities requiring the use of a service animal an equal opportunity to access University property, courses, programs, and activities.

A service animal is any dog, or in some circumstances a miniature horse, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets.

Students

Academic, Housing, and General Environments

Service animals are permitted in any buildings or locations where the student with a disability is allowed access. Students who use service animals are not required to register the animal with the Educational Access Center (EAC). Students may, however, contact their designated access coordinator at the EAC for assistance with proactively informing other University employees – such as faculty, advisors, or building coordinators – that the service animal is granted access.

Employees

Workplace Environments

Employees who use a service animal and intend to bring the animal into the workplace should request an accommodation following the process under University Policy 7570 (Accommodating Disabilities in the Work Environment). To start this process, employees should contact Human Resources at (208) 426-1616 or hrs@boisestate.edu.

Members of the Public

Members of the general public and their service animals may go wherever access to the public is granted.

Rights and Responsibilities

Service Animal Owner’s Responsibilities

The service animal’s owner is responsible for:

• Keeping the animal under direct control at all times
• Ensuring that the animal is not disruptive
• Cleaning up after the animal immediately and disposing of waste and debris promptly
• Dealing with any damage or injury caused by the service animal

Service Animal Owner’s Rights

University employees must allow a service animal to enter a facility with its owner when it is readily apparent that the animal is trained to perform tasks for the individual. If the need is not apparent, only the following two questions may be asked:

• Is the service animal required because of a disability?
• What tasks has the animal been trained to perform?

The following may not be requested:

• Information on the nature of the individual’s disability
• Medical information
• Documentation or proof that the animal is a service animal
• Demonstration of the animal’s ability to perform tasks

If there is any doubt that an animal is required because of a disability, the animal should be permitted to enter into the facility with its owner, and then the ADA/504 Coordinator may be contacted at complianceandethics@boisestate.edu or (208) 426-1258.

Service Animals in Training

Service Animals in Training are allowed on campus to the same extent and subject to the same limitations as Service Animals.

Policies

• University Policy 2080 (Equal Access to Students with Disabilities)
• University Policy 7570 (Accommodating Disabilities in the Work Environment)
• University Policy 9160 (Animals on Campus)

Training & Resources

• ADA National Network Service Animal Information Hub
• Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA
• NW ADA Center Fact Sheets on Service Animals

Complaint Reporting