In accordance with federal and state laws, regulations and guidances (including as applicable the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, MGL ch. 272, sec. 98A, the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights) the College allows the use of service animals under handler control on College property as a means of providing access to employment, educational programs, activities and services to individuals with disabilities. The College generally permits service animals assisting individuals with disabilities in all facilities maintained by the College. The College complies with applicable federal and state laws, regulations and guidances the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and state laws related to service animals. 

In the event of a conflict between any applicable law or rule and this policy, the law and rule will apply.

Animals that fall outside the legal definitions of service animal, such as animals which fall within the ADA definition of emotional support animals that are not also trained to provide a specific service, are generally not permitted on the campus.1 Should an individual wish to request an exception to this rule, they may bring their requests to the College who will College will address such requests as a request for reasonable accommodation under applicable laws and make exceptions and determinations in accordance with any legal requirements. (See the ADA regulations for more information.)

Students: For questions regarding or assistance with service animals or any other accommodation, please speak with Quincy College’s Student Accessibility Associate at (617) 984-1682.

Employees: For questions regarding or assistance with service animals or any other accommodation, please speak with Office at Human Resources EEO Coordinator Phone (617) 984-1610

Service Animals

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations defines “service animal” as any dog[1] that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directed related to the person’s disability.

Examples of the types of Work a Service Animal May Provide

The work performed by a service animal must be directly related to its handler’s disability. Examples of work performed by service animals 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 or assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities.
  • Helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.

For questions regarding or assistance with service animals or any other accommodation, please speak with Quincy College’s Student Accessibility Associate at (617) 984-1682. 

Employees should contact the Office of Human Resources EEO Coordinator Phone (617) 984-1610.

Service Animal Documentation

Consistent with Massachusetts law, all service animals on campus shall possess a valid animal license. Where required by law, all service animals should be properly vaccinated and wear a current license and rabies vaccination tag.

A service animal may, but is not required, to wear some type of recognizable symbol identifying it as a service animal. There is no requirement for documentation to prove that the animal has had particular training or is a certified service animal.

Where Service Animals are Allowed

Under the ADA and state regulations, service animals are allowed to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the college where students, faculty or members of the public are normally allowed to go. People who use service animals will not be segregated from or treated less favorably than other students. Consistent with federal and state law, a service animal may be prohibited from a facility or program if the animal’s behavior or presence poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. However, it may be appropriate to exclude a service animal from certain sterile environments where the presence of a service animal may compromise the environment. For example, a service animal would be allowed in classrooms, administrative buildings, and dining areas. There may be instances where a service dog may be excluded from research areas, labs, mechanical room/custodian closets, or here the animal’s presence may constitute a danger or a fundamental alteration of the program or activity conducted in the area. In such circumstances, the person with the disability would be considered for all reasonable accommodations. Access to restricted areas may be granted on a case by case basis by contacting the Student Accessibility Services Coordinator at the designated campus.

This policy applies to facilities owned by the College or under its control. Please be aware that there may be restrictions imposed on the use of service animals in non- college facilities, such as hospitals, science laboratories or other clinical locations, where students may be required to participate in a clinical program at a different work location. Such restrictions are established by the individual facilities according to their own policies and procedures. While the College will work with students to identify programs, facilities and situations in their clinical areas where there are not facility restrictions or where accommodations can be made so as to ensure the student has full access to the clinical part of a program, the College does not control the restrictions set by other facilities in accordance with the laws.

Supervision and Management of the Service Animal

The owner has responsibility for the supervision and management of the service dog. The owner of the animal must abide by all state and local requirements regarding vaccination, licensure, leash control, and all other requirements for animals. The owner is responsible for the care and well-being of the animal, and is responsible for to clean up after and properly dispose of the animal’s waste in a safe and sanitary manner.

Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service animals. When a person who is allergic to dog dander and a person who uses a service animal must spend time in the same room, for example, in a school classroom, they both should be accommodated by assigning them, if possible, to different locations within the room or different rooms in the college.

Etiquette Rules

If it is not apparent what your service animal does, you may be asked:

  1. Is the animal required because of a disability?
  2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

These questions may not be asked if the tasks performed by the animal are obvious. For example, if a service animal is pulling a wheelchair or guiding a person who is blind. Additionally, the person with the service animal should not be asked if the animal has been certified, trained or licensed.

Members of the public should avoid:

  • Petting a service animal, as it may distract the animal from its work.
  • Feeding a service animal.
  • Deliberately startling a service animal.
  • Calling or attempting to attract the attention of a service animal.
  • Attempting to separate a service animal from its handler.

Control of a Service Animal

The College is not responsible for the care or supervision of a service animal. A service animal must be under the control of its handlers at all times. A service animal shall have a leash or tether, unless the handler is unable because of a disability to use a leash or tether, or the use of such would interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of its work or tasks. Under those circumstances, where a service animal is not tethered, the service animal must be otherwise under the handler’s control (i.e., voice control, signals, or other effective means).

Exclusion and Removal of a Service Animal from College Property

The College may direct an individual with a disability to remove a service animal from the premises if the animal:

  • If the service animal poses a direct threat to health and safety.
  • Is out of control, such as aggressively barking or snapping, and its handler does not take effective action to control the animal (including if/when the animal poses a direct threat to others on campus and/or exhibits behavior that interferes with the educational process)
  • Is not housebroken, is ill
  • Is not properly licensed and/or vaccinated.

If the College removes a service animal from its premises, it will work with the individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in its programs or activity without having the service animal on the premises or with the service dog or another service dog where impediments to presence have been addressed.

Questions

For questions regarding service animals, please speak with Quincy College’s Student

Accessibility Associate at (617) 984-1682. Employees should contact the Office at Human Resources EEO Coordinator Phone (617) 984-1610.

Complaints

Any person who believes that their right to use a service animal on College property has been violated may file a complaint with the Vice President of Student Success and Partnerships, at 1250 Hancock St., Quincy, MA 02169; by calling (617) 984-1724; or by emailing mgiovannani@quincycollege.edu. Employees should contact the Office of Human Resources EEO Coordinator Phone (617) 984-1610.

Original: March 2019
Updated: August 2020; August 2024
Updated Title Changes: July 2023; July 2024
1 The College does not have residences.

[1] Under reasonable circumstances, a miniature horse that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability may also be permitted as a service animal. The miniature horse must be under the owner’s control, housebroken, ne of a’s type, size, and weight that can be accommodated., and meet other requirements as described in the ADA in terms of safety and maintenance..