Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals and Pets
Service Animals
William & Mary welcomes the presence of trained service animals (or those in training) on campus, consistent with the guidelines and laws provided below. Guidelines and laws apply to faculty, staff, students and visitors/guests.
A service animal as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) refers to "a dog individually trained to do work for the benefit of an individual with a disability including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals who are hearing impaired to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or fetching dropped items."
Virginia law also includes dogs in training that are at least six months of age. Revised ADA regulations have a separate provision about miniature horses, where reasonable.
Generally, service animals are allowed to access the same areas on campus as an individual with a disability; however, there may be areas where animals are prohibited due to health and safety concerns. Such areas includes, but are not limited to, research laboratories, mechanical rooms, custodial closets, food service preparation areas, areas where protective clothing is necessary, or areas where there is a danger to the service animal.
Individuals with disabilities are not required to request permission to bring a service animal on campus as an accommodation; however students who seek to have a service animal live in a residence hall must register with Student Accessibility Services to ensure that proper housing is provided and to provide licensure and vaccination information in accordance with Virginia Law. Employees who seek to have a service animal in the workplace must register with University Human Resources and provide proper licensure and vaccination information in accordance with Virginia Law.
Emotional Support Animals
Emotional Support Animal (ESAs) refers to an animal that provides comfort or emotional support just by being with a person and can be any type of animal, as reasonable. Unlike service animals, ESAs are not permitted to accompany individuals with disabilities on campus without a reasonable accommodation. Pets are not ESAs.
Students seeking to have an ESA in a residence hall must request a reasonable accommodation from Student Accessibility Services. These determinations are made on a case by case basis as part of the interactive process. Emotional support animals are not permitted in other campus buildings unless a separate accommodation request has been approved.
If an ESA is approved as a reasonable accommodation, proper licensure and vaccination information must be provided as required by Virginia law.
Emotional Support Animal Guidelines
Pets
A pet is a domestic animal kept for pleasure or companionship. Pets are not permitted in university buildings.
The employee dog policy applies to all university employees, including faculty, hourly and wage employees, as well as volunteers, contract workers, vendors, and others affiliated with the university. This policy was created to protect employees from possible allergies and to allow them to feel safe in their workspace. This policy does NOT apply to service animals or service animals in training.
Other Information/Questions?
The U.S. Department of Justice provides a comprehensive list of questions and answers.
