Accommodations and Services

 

Housing Accommodations (Room, Meal Plan, ESA)

Room/Building Accommodations

If a student needs to explore housing accommodations due to a medical or psychological diagnosis/disability, the Office of Accessibility (OA) will work with Residence Life to explore options available to ensure access to this aspect of university life. The Disability Verification Form for Housing can be requested from OA and provided to the student upon request, for completion by their treating specialist(s). You will also need to complete the OA Accommodations Request Form.

NOTE: OA will work with Residence Life to explore and recommend available housing options for students with a documented disability need. As residing on campus for a student's initial two (2) years is campus policy, exemption from housing or release from a housing contract may be explored with OA and Residence Life when there is documented need, and no other options (reasonable or otherwise and not based on preference) are available for the resident student.

Requests for housing accommodations and the required documentation are due to the Office of Accessibility by May 15th for new students and February 1st for returning students. Applications submitted later that the deadline will be considered. Winthrop University will make a good faith effort to provide reasonable accommodations, but may not be able to guarantee that appropriate residential provisions will be completed within that semester.

 

Emotional Support Animals

Students who would like to explore receiving an ESA as an accommodation will need to follow the current ESA guidelines and procedures established by OA and Residence Life. You will also need to complete the OA Accommodations Request Form.

Required documentation is due to the Office of Accessibility by May 15th for new students and February 1st for returning students. Applications submitted later that the deadline will be considered. Winthrop University will make a good faith effort to provide reasonable accommodations, but may not be able to guarantee that appropriate residential provisions will be completed within that semester.

In order to receive permission to have an emotional support animal in university housing or other university facilities, the student must work with the Office of Accessibility and Residence Life. Per Winthrop's Emotional Support Animal Policy for Students, located in the campus Policy Repository, only ONE emotional support animal per student is allowed.

 

Meal Plan Accommodations

OA does NOT approve meal plan exemptions, meal plan waivers, or meal plan reductions. If a student needs to explore dining options due to a medical diagnosis/disability, OA will work with Dining Services to explore options available on campus to ensure access to this aspect of university life. The Disability Verification Form for Restricted Diet/Food Allergy Form can be requested from OA and provided to the student upon request. Take the Residence Dining Tour to see the variety of dining options available. You will also need to complete the OA Accommodations Request Form.

 

TO REITERATE: OA does NOT approve meal plan exemptions, meal plan waivers, or meal plan reductions. Those need to be requested through Residence Life only after:

  1. It is noted by a treating specialists (on the DVF for Restricted Diet/Food Allergy Form) that a dietary need is necessary due to disability/medical condition; AND
  2. Available food options are explored and discussed between the student and campus Dining Services Manager, Chef, and Dietician; AND
  3. After conversation and a review of all available options, it is determined by the campus Dining Services Manager, Chef and Dietician that there are only limited available options.