Purpose
This policy outlines the expectations related to the proper use of service animals at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
Scope
This policy applies to any individual with a service animal who is participating in programs, activities, housing or employment at RISD.
Definitions
- Service Animal: any dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. Service animals are classified as working animals, not pets. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the owner’s disability. The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
- Handler/Owner: an individual who has physical possession and control of any animal brought to campus, including Service Animals (or service animal in training) or an Emotional Support Animal.
Policy
Service animals assisting individuals with disabilities, including students, staff, faculty, and visitors to RISD, are generally permitted in all RISD campus facilities and programs except as described below.
Handler/Owner Responsibilities:
An individual with a disability is not required to notify RISD about their service animal. However, in order to provide better and more inclusive support and/or accommodations, we encourage students who have a service animal to identify to Disability Support Services ("DSS"), and employees and applicants to identify to Human Resources.
RISD shall provide access, or shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of a service animal. RISD may assess whether a service animal is permitted by an individual with a disability if the service animal has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability and additional assessment factors for miniature horses have been considered. To determine whether to allow a service animal into a specific facility, RISD must consider: the type, size, and weight of the animal and whether the facility can accommodate these features; whether the individual has sufficient control of the animal; whether the animal is housebroken; and whether the animal’s presence in a specific facility compromises legitimate safety requirements that are necessary for safe operation.
The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual'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 non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.
The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition. Therefore, comfort animals, emotional support animals, or therapy animals are not service animals and are not covered by this Policy. For more information about emotional support animals on campus, please see the Emotional Support Animals (“ESA”) Policy.
The handler is responsible for attending to and being in full control of the service animal at all times. The handler must ensure the service animal is behaving, under control, and not interfering with day-to-day operations and business of the campus community (i.e., not barking regularly) nor posing a threat to others (i.e., not growling or biting others). Under control means a service animal shall have a harness, leash, or other tether unless a) the handler is unable to use a harness, leash or tether, or b) using a harness, leash, or tether will interfere with the animal’s ability to safely and effectively perform its duties. In those cases, the handler must use voice, signal, or other effective means to maintain control of the animal. If a service animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it, RISD employees may request that the animal be removed from the premises. Handlers whose animal does not behave appropriately are expected to cooperate if asked by RISD staff or faculty to remove the animal from that immediate environment. Reasonable behavior is expected from service animals. If a service dog, for example, exhibits unacceptable behavior, the individual is expected to employ the proper training techniques to correct the situation.
The handler is strongly encouraged to have the service animal wear a leash, harness, cape, or vest that identifies the animal as a service animal when on duty anywhere on campus. The handler is responsible for the costs of care that are necessary for a service animal’s well-being. The arrangements and responsibilities with the care of a service animal are the sole responsibility of the handler at all times, including toileting, feeding, grooming, bathing, and veterinary care. The handler is responsible for independently removing or arranging for the removal of the service animal’s waste to an outdoor trash container in a timely and appropriate manner.
The handler is responsible for complying with local and state laws concerning licensing, animal rights and owner responsibilities. Service animals must be current with immunizations and wear a rabies vaccination tag. Annual documentation regarding immunizations is required and must be submitted to Disability Support Services (for students and student employees) or Human Resources (for employees or applicants). Although RISD defines Service Animals as working animals and not as pets, all such animals on the RISD campus (school or museum) must comply with City of Providence licensing and registration requirements.
The handler is responsible for paying for any damage (including cleaning of inhabited rooms within the Residence Hall space) to RISD property caused by the animal.
Service animals must leave campus with the handler anytime the handler leaves, including but not limited to leaving overnight and/or during College breaks. RISD is not responsible for a service animal in the event of a fire alarm, fire drill, or other natural disaster.
RISD may prohibit the use of service animals in certain locations due to health and safety restrictions or places where the animal might be in danger. Restricted areas may include, but are not limited to, food preparation areas, specific workshops, boiler rooms, spaces that use hazardous materials or equipment, and other areas prohibited by law. Disability Support Services (for students and student employees) and Human Resources (for employees and applicants) are available to help individuals with disabilities become aware of restricted spaces and identify alternative accommodations. Additional information for visitors to the RISD Museum can be found on the Museum’s Accessibility & Amenities page.
RISD Community Responsibilities
The RISD community must allow service animals to accompany their owners at all times and everywhere on campus where the general public (if accompanying a visitor), other employees (if accompanying an employee) or other students (if accompanying a student) are allowed, except for places where there is a health, environmental, or safety hazard. The RISD community should:
- not pet or feed a service animal.
- not attempt to separate the animal from the handler.
- not startle or tease a service animal.
- contact Disability Support Services or Human Resources if faculty/staff have any additional questions regarding service animals on campus.
- report any service animals who misbehave or any owners (or other individuals) who mistreat their service animals to the Department of Public Safety.
Health and Safety
Generally, allergies and fear of the service animal are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to individuals using service animals. When a person who is allergic to a service animal’s dander and a person who uses a service animal must spend time in the same room or facility, such as a college classroom, they both should be accommodated through the necessary channels. An individualized assessment is required for each situation.
Reasonable accommodations are processed through RISD Disability Support Services for students and student employees and through Human Resources for employees (benefits partner) and applicants (talent partner) for employment. If an individual reports a medical condition(s) that is affected by a service animal, RISD will consider the needs of all parties in meeting its obligation to provide reasonable accommodations.
Procedures
Addressing Service Animals
The appropriate way to determine that an animal is, in fact, a service animal is to ask (only if it is not apparent) if the animal is required because of a disability and what tasks it has been trained to perform. Specific questions about the individual’s disability may not be asked.
Only two questions can be asked about service animals:
- Is this service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task is the service animal trained to perform?
Policy Sanctions
Violations of this policy may result in applicable disciplinary procedures in accordance with Human Resources (employees) and Student Life (students) policies and procedures and applicable collective bargaining agreements. Sanctions will be determined on a case-by-case basis pursuant to applicable policies and procedures and may be determined based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, past conduct, severity of the violations, the impact upon the community or others, or any combination of these factors.
Additionally, RISD reserves the right to review alleged violations of this policy in conjunction with other appropriate offices and under other applicable College policies and procedures, including but not limited to those listed under Related Policies.
Related policies
Revision history
This policy was approved as of: 4/23/2025
This policy was last reviewed/modified on: 4/23/2025
Next scheduled review: 4/23/2027
Responsibilities
Issuing Office
Disability Support Services
Responsible Officer
Vice President, Student Life
Vice President, Human Resources
Individuals/offices required for review and changes
Residence Life
Equity & Compliance
Office of the General Counsel
RISD Museum
Public Safety
Human Resources