Sierra College is committed to the full participation of students with disabilities in all aspects of college life, including residential life in the Residence Hall, and it complies with all state and federal laws regarding equal access to housing. Sierra College has established the following procedures for requesting reasonable housing accommodations and modifications to ensure students with disabilities have equal access to housing at the Residence Hall.
Please Note:
- This document sets out the procedures for requesting reasonable housing accommodations and modifications, including requests for assistance animals. These procedures do not impose any limitations on service animals, which are animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. For more information about service animals on campus, please refer to Sierra College District Administrative Procedure 3925 (Service Animals).
Process for Requesting Reasonable Housing Accommodations
1. Submit Housing Accommodations and Modification Requests
Generally, to request reasonable housing accommodations and modifications, students must complete the Housing Accommodations and Modifications Request Form.
The Residence Hall Office encourages students to submit the form as early as possible. Sierra College provides reasonable housing accommodations and modifications based on need and as space permits, and timely submission of requests allows the Residence Hall to assess student needs and space availability. For deadlines, check the Important Housing and Application Dates for the semester the accommodation is requested.
Students may also submit requests for reasonable housing accommodation and modifications after room assignments have been completed. Sierra College will review and consider such requests as needed, throughout the academic year. However, housing options may be limited due to occupancy/resources in inventory.
Additional information regarding requests for academic accommodations and requests for assistance animals for students living on campus is provided below.
2. Provide Confirmation of the Need for Accommodation
Sierra College may request non-confidential information relating to a student’s request for a housing accommodation and modification. Students should not provide any information regarding medical history, diagnoses, or the names or types of medical conditions that they may suffer from when requesting a housing accommodation or modification.
A student should provide Sierra College with information confirming that they have a disability and that they have a disability-related need for the accommodation and modification requested from a reliable third party, such as a doctor or other medical professional. The confirmation should include the following information:
- Student’s name and identification number (if available);
- Confirmation that the student has a qualifying disability that limits a major life activity;
- Description of the accommodation(s) and/or modification(s) the student needs;
- Description of the relationship between the student’s disability and how the requested accommodation and/or modification is necessary for the student to use and enjoy housing opportunities at the Residence Hall;
- Description of how the third party is familiar with the student’s disability and the disability-related need for the accommodation and/or modification;
- Contact information for the third party; and
- The third party’s signature.
Depending on the housing accommodations and modifications requested, additional documentation may be required to evaluate the request. Sierra College may approve housing accommodations and modifications on a temporary basis (for a particular semester or full academic year), or permanently through the student’s time at Sierra College. Sierra College makes this determination on a case-by-case basis and will communicate it to the student at the time of initial approval.
3. Evaluation and Determination of Reasonable Accommodations
Sierra College determines reasonable housing accommodations and modifications based on need and considers requests on a case-by-case basis. The Residence Hall Accommodations Advisory Workgroup (RHAAW), in consultation with Student Accessibility Services and other Sierra College departments as needed, meets to review accommodation and modification requests. After reviewing a request, Sierra College may request that the student engage in an interactive process with Residence Hall staff. The Residence Hall will notify students of the status of their request in writing.
In certain circumstances, Sierra College may deny requests for housing accommodations or modifications, including, but not limited to, in the following circumstances:
- The student is not an individual with a disability;
- There is not a disability-related need for the requested accommodation or modification;
- The requested accommodation would constitute a fundamental alteration of Sierra College’s services or operations;
- The requested accommodation would impose an undue financial and administrative burden on Sierra College; or
- The requested accommodation would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of others or would cause substantial physical damage to the property of others, and another reasonable accommodation would not sufficiently mitigate or eliminate the risks.
If Sierra College determines that it cannot grant a request, it will work with the student to identify if there is another accommodation and/or modification that is equally effective to meet their needs.
In cases where Sierra College denies a request for housing accommodations or modifications and the student does not accept an alternative accommodation or modification, or alternative accommodations are not available, Sierra College will provide students an explanation in writing of the reasons for the denial of requested housing accommodation(s) or modification(s). If Sierra College denies a student’s request for housing accommodations and/or modifications and the student does not accept an alternative accommodation or modification, or alternative accommodations or modifications are not available, the student will also have the option to terminate their housing agreement without incurring any penalties.
Students with disabilities are not responsible for paying a surcharge to cover the costs of reasonable accommodations or modifications that they need to have equal access to housing opportunities at the Residence Hall.
Requesting Academic Accommodations
Students living on campus must maintain enrollment in a minimum of 12 units at all times during the academic year. If a student needs an accommodation with respect to this requirement, they must submit this request with their academic counselor. The academic counselor can request the Reduced Unit Accommodation form from the Residence Hall Office.
Students seeking a Reduced Unit Accommodation are expected to maintain enrollment in a minimum of 9 units. Accommodation requests to be enrolled in less than 9 units will be evaluated by the Supervisor of Residence Life and the Associate Dean of Student Services prior to housing approval.
A student must submit a new Reduced Unit Load Accommodation form for each semester that their counselor recommends a reduced unit load. Students seeking an academic accommodation due to a disability should contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to seek services. Student Accessibility Services can be contacted by email at dsps@sierracollege.edu or by phone at (916) 660-7460.
Requesting an Assistance Animal
The Residence Hall does not allow pets in student housing; however, a student resident with a confirmed disability may request a reasonable accommodation related to their need for an assistance animal.
Students may not keep assistance animals in campus housing without prior approval from theResidence Hall. Students requesting an assistance animal as an accommodation are encouraged to complete the Housing Accommodations and Modifications Request Form and provide confirmation of the disability-related need for the accommodation, as outlined in Step 2 above.
The Residence Hall will accept and consider a request for an assistance animal at any time; however, students anticipating making a request for an assistance animal are encouraged to complete the process prior to moving into campus housing and always before bringing any assistance animal onto campus. Based on roommate matching considerations, requests for assistance animals are more likely to be granted promptly when received prior to room offers being sent out. See student housing website for specific dates. If the student submits a request for an assistance animal after moving in, it is highly recommended that the student have a conversation with their roommate(s) about bringing an animal to live in their shared campus housing. If issues arise related to roommates and/or suitemates and the assistance animal, please contact the Residence Hall Office as early as possible so that assistance can be provided.
Sierra College may deny a request for an assistance animal if the assistance animal constitutes a direct threat to the health or safety of others or would cause substantial physical damage to the property of others, and another reasonable accommodation would not sufficiently mitigate or eliminate that harm.
If, after the interactive process, the Residence Hall approves a student’s request for an assistance animal, the student must provide proof of vaccination from a veterinarian and sign the Assistance Animal Owner/Handler Responsibilities Form. Assistance animals are the sole responsibility of the student and must be under their control at all times. The student is also responsible for any damages to property and for any injury caused by an assistance animal. Additionally, the student must provide to the Residence Hall Office a photo of the assistance animal, animal registration, proof of vaccination from a veterinarian and complete the Assistance Animal Registration Form.
The final step before the approved assistance animal enters student housing is scheduling a meet and greet with Residence Hall Staff and the Director of Community Safety. This visit will determine if the behavior of the animal is suitable for student housing.
Students with approved assistance animals agree that the assistance animal will be well cared assistance animal for at all times and properly contained or restrained when the student is not present. An may not be left alone or in the care of others overnight in campus housing or for any period exceeding 24 hours without prior approval from the Residence Hall Supervisor or designee.
Students may bring their assistance animal into their residence at the Residence Hall. Assistance animals are not permitted in any other resident’s room or other campus buildings, except for common resident amenity spaces within the Residence Hall, if the student needs to be accompanied by the assistance animal in order to fully use and enjoy the amenity space. Assistance animals are not permitted in kitchens or public bathrooms.
In certain circumstances, a student with an approved assistance animal may be asked to remove the animal from the Residence Hall, including, but not limited to, if the assistance animal is unduly disruptive, poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others (e.g., if it displays vicious or aggressive behavior toward people or other animals), or causes substantial damage to the property of the Residence Hall or other individuals’ property.
