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the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; 1B SBCCC 300.1; 1B SBCCC 300.2

Approvals

10/10/2024

Revision

Policy

�鶹��Ƶ (MTCC) regulates the presence of privately owned animals, including pets, in college buildings and on college-owned and controlled property.

Purpose/Definitions

In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable federal and state law, the College may be required to accommodate an otherwise qualified individual with a disability aby making a reasonable modification in its services, programs, or activities. This Policy addressed use of Service Animals and other animals on campus.

Definitions

Emotional Support Animal – an animal selected or prescribed to an individual with a disability by a healthcare or mental health professional to play a significant part in a person’s treatment process (e.g., in alleviating the symptoms of that individual’s disability). An emotional support animal does not assist a person with a disability with activities of daily living and does not accompany a person with a disability at all times. An emotional support animal is not a “Service Animal”.

Law Enforcement Animal – An animal that is trained and may be used to assist a law enforcement officer in the performance of the officer’s official duties.

Service Animal – An animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit or an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. The work or tasks performed by a Service Animal must be directly related to the handler’s disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing nonviolent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals of the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balanced and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping person with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by prevent or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. Service animals may or may not have been licensed by a state or local government or a private agency. Service animals are limited to service dogs, and in some cases, miniature horses. A miniature horse may range in height from 24 to 34 inches measured to the shoulder, and generally weigh between 70 and 100 pounds. College facilities must be able to accommodate the horse’s type, size and weight; and, the horse’s presence must not compromise legitimate safety requirements necessary for the safe operation of facilities.

Pet/Domestic Animal – An animal that is a member of a species that is normally dependent on humans for food and shelter, including dogs, cats, and other common domestic animals. A pet/domestic animal is not an Emotional Support Animal or a Service Animal.

Service Animal-in-Training – An animal that is brought to campus by a trainer for the purpose of training the animal to become a service animal for individuals with disabilities and is allowed in accordance with NCGS 168-4.2(b) and the provisions of this policy.

Animals on Campus

Animals are permitted on campus; however, pets/domestic animals are not permitted on campus or within buildings and may not be left unattended and endangered in a vehicle of college property (NCGS 14-363.3). There are occasions when a student or employee may need to bring an animal onto campus for the purpose of meeting an educational objective. Such requests should be made to the appropriate academic Dean prior to the animal being allowed onto campus. Subject to the rules set forth in College Procedure CP 1.29.1, Emotional Support and Service Animals are permitted in any area of campus where employees or students are permitted, with a few exception for health and safety reasons (i.e., areas that must adhere to certain required sanitation rules (cosmetology and health sciences programs and third-party clinical partners)).

A Service Animal is permitted to accompany the Partner anywhere the Partner goes on campus with the following exception: Any room, studio, or classroom, with sharp metal cuttings or glass shards on the floor; hot materials such as molten metal; excessive dust; or moving machinery may pose a danger to the service animal. When a person with a service animal must be in one of these areas as a course requirement or condition of employment, alternative arrangements will be considered for providing access; or the Partner may sign a waiver confirming their understanding of the potential danger. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to ensure equal access to all College programs, activities and employment.