Student Handbook and Catalog 2021-22 V2

56 | College Catalog and Student Handbook
service animal in all areas of the campus including any
place of public accommodation. Individuals living in
College housing will be permitted to have no more than
one service or support animal. A student must seek
registration for a service animal to reside in College
housing space. Information and procedures to gain
approval may be found at the Housing office for your
campus.
Service animals in training on campus are allowed if the
individual is an approved trainer who is an agent of an
organization recognized as reputable and competent to
provide such training and the individual submits proof to
the Access and Learning Accommodations Office that he
or she is the approved trainer as required in Texas Human
Resources Code Dec. 121.003. Individuals participating
in an internship off campus must refer to the entity’s ADA
designee for any inquiries regarding the requirements for
service animals in training to enter their facility.
Emotional Support Animals
In accordance to the Fair Housing Act of 1988 and the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the
College permits an individual with a disability to keep an
emotional support animal within his or her College housing
and on College grounds. The emotional support animal is
not allowed to accompany the student into other public
buildings on campus, including the dining area.
To be considered on a case-by-case basis by the TSTC
Access and Learning Accommodations Office, all animals
must comply with the city code of ordinances of the
campus where the student resides.
Animals defined as “dangerous wild animals” in the Texas
Health and Safety Code §822.101 (big cats, apes, bears,
hybrids of these animals), primates, high-rabies-risk
animals (bats, fox, raccoon, coyote), venomous animals,
and domestic animals with unknown health history are not
allowed.
The Code says a "dangerous wild animal” means:
A. A lion;
B. A tiger;
C. An ocelot;
D. A cougar;
E. A leopard;
F. A cheetah;
G. A jaguar;
H. A bobcat;
I. A lynx;
J. A serval;
K. A caracal;
L. A hyena;
M. A bear;
N. A coyote;
O. A jackal;
P. A baboon;
Q. A chimpanzee;
R. An orangutan;
S. A gorilla; or
T. Any hybrid of an animal listed in this subdivision.
In addition to above mentioned, the college reserves the
right to remove an emotional support animal if:
• it poses a direct threat to the safety of others or causes
significant property damage,
• its presence results in an undue burden or fundamental
alteration of a college's program,
• it creates an unmanageable disturbance or interference
with the college community and/or
• Student does not comply with the conditions set forth
by the Access and Learning Accommodations office and
the Student Housing Office.
Criteria for emotional support animals in Housing
Typically, an emotional support animal is prescribed to
an individual with a disability by a health care or mental
health professional and is an integral part of a person’s
treatment process. Individuals living in College housing
will be permitted to have no more than one service or
support animal. The Access and Learning Accommodations
office manages requests related to a support animal
within the student’s College housing assignment. Requests
made by faculty or staff residing in housing should
be directed to the Housing Department and Human
Resources office.
Animal Etiquette
To the extent possible, the handler should ensure that
the animal does not: sniff people, restaurant tables or the
personal belongings of others. Also, the animal should
not display any behaviors or noises that are disruptive
to others, unless part of the service being provided the
handler. Furthermore, it is the handler’s responsibility that
the animal does not block an aisle or passageway for fire
egress. Violation of this on behalf of an individual, may
result in disciplinary action.
Public Etiquette Toward Service or Emotional Support
Animals
It is OK to ask someone if she/he would like assistance
if there seems to be confusion. However, faculty, staff,
students, visitors and members of the general public
should avoid the following: petting a service animal, as
it may distract them from the task at hand; feeding the
service animal; deliberately startling a service animal; and
separating or attempting to separate a handler from his/
her service animal. Individuals found in violation of this
may be subject to disciplinary action.
tstc.edu
Texas State Technical College