Michigan Technological University Service Dog Procedures
Persons with disabilities may be accompanied by working service dogs on the campus(es) of Michigan Technological University. Michigan Tech is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to students and employees with disabilities and fulfilling obligations under State and Federal law.
Definitions
Disability - a physical or mental condition or impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working and/or learning.
Service dog - Service dogs are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Examples of work include a guide dog for the blind, or a dog trained to sweep a room for someone with PTSD. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do NOT qualify as service dogs under the ADA.
Service Dogs on Campus
Visitors to campus with service dogs may access all public facilities, with the exception of areas where service dogs are specifically prohibited due to safety or health restrictions, where the service dog may be in danger, or where the service dog’s use may compromise the integrity of research. Contact the ADA Coordinator with any questions at adacoordinator@mtu.edu or 906-487-3310.
Students with a disability who wish to utilize a service dog in the classroom, University housing, laboratory, or University office should contact Student Disability Services at sds@mtu.edu or 906-487-3558. Students may be required to purchase protective gear for their dog to access a lab and some labs may be off-limit to dogs.
Employees who would like to request a service dog as a reasonable accommodation to help them perform the essential functions of their job may contact the ADA Coordinator at adacoordinator@mtu.edu or 906-487-3310.
Responsibilities
- Service dogs on campus must comply with all state and local licensure and vaccination requirements.
- The University has continuing authority to direct and require that a dog receive veterinary attention at the expense of the individual who uses the dog’s service.
- The care and supervision of a service dog is the responsibility of the individual who uses the dog’s service. The individual must maintain control of the dog at all times. Under the ADA, service dogs must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless the individual’s disability prevents using these devices or these devices interfere with the service dog’s safe, effective performance of tasks. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the dog through voice, signal, or other effective controls.
- The individual using the dog’s service is responsible for ensuring the immediate clean-up of all dog waste. Facilities Management and Housing staff may designate dog toileting areas.
- A dog that is not properly cared for, controlled or supervised may be excluded not only from University buildings, but from the entire campus. Infractions and consequences will be handled by the Equal Opportunity Compliance in conjunction with applicable University officials. Please visit Complaint Procedures for information on how to report concerns.
- Injuries caused by and to the dog must be immediately reported to the Department of Public Safety and Police Services.
- The individual who uses the dog’s service is financially responsible for all personal and/or property damage caused by the dog while on Michigan Tech property.
- Service dogs must not be cleaned/groomed in University rest rooms.
Public Etiquette for Interaction with Service Dogs
- Allow a service dog to accompany the individual who requires the dog’s service at all times and everywhere on campus except where service dogs are specifically prohibited.
- Do not approach, touch, feed, etc., a service dog unless you have asked and received permission from the individual who uses the dog’s service.
- Do not deliberately startle a service dog or attempt to separate an individual from their service dog.
Removal of Service Dogs
A service dog may be removed from University facilities or grounds if disruptive (e.g., barking, wandering, displaying aggressive behavior) and the behavior is outside the duties of the service dog. Unhygienic, unsanitary, and/or ill service dogs are not permitted in public campus areas. The individual responsible for such a dog may be required to remove the dog.
Grievances
Please contact the ADA Coordinator in Equal Opportunity Compliance at adacoordinator@mtu.edu or 906-487-3310 regarding disputes or disagreements about disability determination, appropriateness of an accommodation, service quality, or a dog restriction.
Emergency Situations
In the event of an emergency, be aware that service dogs and the individual who requires the dog’s service are considered a team and every effort should be made to keep the individual and dog together. The individual and/or dog may be confused if an emergency situation arises. The dog may become disoriented from the smoke or smell in a fire, from sirens or wind noise, or from shaking and moving ground. The dog may become protective of the individual who requires the dog’s service and as such, the dog should not be considered harmful. In the event of an emergency, contact Public Safety and Police Services 906-487-2216.