AP 16-70 Animals on Campus

Arapahoe Community College
Series 16 – Buildings and Grounds
AP 16-70 Animals on Campus

Originated: January 14, 2025

Revised: August 21, 2025

Reviewed and approved by ACC Leadership Team: August 21, 2025

Effective: August 21, 2025

References: State Board for Community College and Occupational Education (SBCCOE) Board Policy (BP) 16-70, Animals on Campus

Colorado Community College System (CCCS) Procedure (SP) 16-70A Animals on Campus

Approved:

Stephanie J. Fujii, Ph.D.
President, Arapahoe Community College

PURPOSE

ACC will comply with federal and state laws regarding the presence of animals on campus. CCCS is committed to enabling and supporting those individuals with disabilities who require the use of a service animal or emotional support animal to aid in use and enjoyment of CCCS facilities, services, and benefits. 

This process contains pertinent information affecting employees, current through the date of its issuance.  BPs and SPs are subject to change throughout the year and are effective immediately upon adoption by the Board or System Chancellor, respectively. 

Employees and students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to BPs, SPs as well as College directives, including but not limited to this Process.

Nothing in this process is intended to create (nor shall it be construed as creating) an express or implied contract or to guarantee employment for any term. The College reserves the right to modify, change, delete or add to this Process as it is deemed appropriate.

To the extent that any provision of this process is inconsistent with State or Federal law, State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education Policies (BPs) or Colorado Community College System Procedures (SPs), the law, BPs and SPs shall supersede and control.

This process incorporates the requirements established in BP 16-70 and SP 16-70a that apply and are referenced above. If there are any discrepancies, BP 16-70 and SP 16-70a prevail.

SCOPE

This process applies to all employees, students, volunteers, guests, contractors, and visitors within Arapahoe Community College facilities.

DEFINITIONS

“Emotional support animal (ESA)” is a companion animal which provides therapeutic benefit, such as alleviating or mitigating some symptoms of a disability, to an individual with a documented disability. ESA animals are typically dogs and cats but may include other animals.

“Handler” is the individual with a disability using a service or emotional support animal on campus, a person responsible for handling the animal in order to assist the individual with the disability, or a person responsible for a pet on campus. 

“Pets” are defined as any animal that does not qualify as a service animal or ESA. 

“Qualified individual with a disability” is an individual who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, who has a history or record of such an impairment, or who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. 

“Service animals” are defined as dogs or, on a limited, case-by-case basis, a miniature horse that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under this process. 

PROCESS

ACC allows service animals on campus.  Emotional support animals are not allowed on campus without an approved disability accommodation that is subject to the same documentation and approval process as other disability accommodations. Pets are not allowed on campus.

Service Animals

Service animals are working animals, not emotional support animals or pets. The work or task a service animal has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. 

Examples of service animal’s work or tasks include, but are not limited to, the following: guiding  people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. 

Service animals with their handlers are allowed in any location where the handlers are allowed. Locations in which food is prepared or sold must allow service animals even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premise. 

Service animals may be excluded from campus if: 

1. The animal is out of control, and the handler does not take effective action to control it;
2. The animal is not housebroken;
3. The animal’s handler is mistreating or neglecting the animal; or
4. The animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. For example, any service dog that displays vicious or unsafe behavior towards others may be excluded. 

Each situation will be considered individually. When there is a legitimate reason to ask that a service animal be removed, the individual with the disability should meet with Disability Access Services (students) or Human Resources (employees) to discuss options. 

College employees are not permitted to ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the service animal, and/or ask that the service animal demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task. When it is not obvious whether an animal is a pet or service animal, only limited inquiries are allowed. Employees may ask two questions: 

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

If the above inquiries are made and, as a result, it becomes clear that the animal is not a service animal, the animal may be excluded from the building or area by the College or otherwise treated the same as any other non-service animal on campus.

Under Colorado law, it is a crime to knowingly misrepresent an animal as a service animal. Misrepresenting an animal as a service animal can result in fines pursuant to Colorado statute and the individual may be referred to either Dean of Students or Human Resources for discipline under applicable policies and procedures (for students and employees), or removed from campus (for guests, visitors and other third parties). 

A service animal in training is permitted when accompanied by a trainer and identified as such. A service animal in training and its trainer must meet the same behavioral expectations as a service animal. 

Limitations

The presence of service animals or ESAs may be subject to limitations as specified by law. For example, if the animal’s presence in any specific area would: 

1. Fundamentally alter College operations;
2. Posses an undue financial or administrative burden to the College; and/or
3. Represent a threat to the health or safety of others. 

Emotional Support Animals

ESAs are not allowed on campus without an approved disability accommodation that is subject to the same documentation and approval procedures as other disability accommodations.  Unlike service animals, emotional support animals may be restricted from places of public accommodation. They are not allowed to enter classrooms, recreational facilities, or other campus buildings without an approved accommodation.  While ESAs are legally protected under the Fair Housing Act, which requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities, ACC does not operate student housing.

Responsibilities of Handlers

The handler of an animal will be fully responsible for: 

• Control of the animal at all times, whether by harness, leash, voice control, signals, or other effective means.
• Appropriate care of the animal to ensure it is regularly bathed, groomed, and treated for fleas and ticks.
• Compliance with state and local requirements regarding rabies and any other vaccinations (the service animal must always wear a valid vaccination tag), as well as state and local requirements regarding licensure and leash control.
• Prompt and thorough cleanup and disposal of waste in a closed container and appropriate trash bin. 

The handler will be solely responsible for any damage caused by the animal, including damages for an injury such as a bite caused by an uncontrolled animal. 

Appeal Process

In the event of a dispute about accommodations relating to validity of a service animal, a student or employee may file a complaint in accordance with College processes.

Pets

Pets are not allowed anywhere on campus, including in College buildings, offices, classrooms or recreational facilities.  Any employee or student bringing pets to campus will be asked to remove the pet and repeated actions requiring requests for removal will result in the student or employee being referred accordingly for college disciplinary action.

Events with Animals

Events that utilize animals on campus for limited or specific times for educational purposes or programming are allowable with permission from a college Vice President.

REVISING THIS PROCEDURE

ACC reserves the right to change any provision or requirement of this procedure at any time and the change shall become effective immediately.