Animal Policy

Overview - Lakeview College of Nursing is sensitive to the impact of animals in the lives of students with disabilities.  This policy governs the presence of animals on Lakeview College of Nursing campuses and clinical sites.

Pets - Definition.  A “pet" is an animal kept for ordinary use and companionship. Assistance animals, including both service animals and support animals, as defined below, are not considered pets.

Use of Pets.  The presence of pet animals is prohibited on all Lakeview College Nursing campuses and clinical sites, at all times.

Assistance Animals  Definition. The term "assistance animal" is the overarching term that refers to both service animals and support animals as defined below. Accordingly, an assistance animal is an animal that either (1) works, provides assistance, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability; or (2) provides emotional or other types of support that alleviate one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability.

Use of Assistance Animals.  Assistance animals may be used by individuals with disabilities at Lakeview College of Nursing, pursuant to the following guidelines:

1. Guidelines for Service Animals.
   1. Definition of Service Animal.
      1. “Service animal” means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
      2. To qualify as a “service animal” under this policy, the work or tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the person's disability.
      3. An animal kept for the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship does not qualify as a “service animal” under this policy.
      4. Species other than dogs or, in some cases, miniature horses, are not considered “service animals” under this policy.
   2. Use of Service Animals.
      1. Service animals will be permitted to accompany persons with disabilities in all areas of the Lakeview College of Nursing facilities, including clinical site agencies, which are normally accessible to those persons.
      2. Students with disabilities shall not be required to submit any proof or documentation to Lakeview College of Nursing prior to use of service animals, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal.
      3. Individuals accompanied by a service animal on campus, but who do not require any additional disability-related accommodations, are not required to register their disability with Lakeview College of Nursing, nor is such individual required to submit a request for a reasonable accommodation to receive access to his or her service animal.
      4. Lakeview College of Nursing personnel shall not inquire about the nature or extent of a person's disability to determine whether a person's animal qualifies as a service animal.
      5. When it is not readily apparent that a dog is a service animal, Lakeview College of Nursing personnel may make two inquiries to determine whether the dog qualifies as a service animal, which is:
         1. Is the dog required because of a disability?
         2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
      6. Each service animal must be trained so that it controls its waste elimination, absent illness, or accident.  Each service animal must be kept under control by a harness, leash, or another tether unless the disabled person is unable to hold those, or use of a harness, leash, or tether would interfere with the service animal’s performance of its work or tasks. In such instances, the service animal must be kept under control by voice, signals, or other effective means.  All service animals must be accompanied and closely monitored by their owners at all times.
      7. Any person with a service animal on any Lakeview College of Nursing property or clinical site shall be responsible and liable for any injury or damage caused by the said animal and shall hold harmless and indemnify Lakeview College of Nursing against any claim or injury involving a said animal.
      8. Any person with a service animal on any Lakeview College of Nursing property or clinical site shall be strictly responsible for cleaning up after the said animal.
      9. Lakeview College of Nursing will assess requests for the use of miniature horses as service animals by persons with disabilities on a case-by-case basis.  Requests should be submitted to Vicky Welge at 217-709-0939 and, consistent with applicable laws and regulations, Lakeview College of Nursing may permit their use if they meet certain criteria and have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of people with disabilities.
2. Guidelines for Support Animals.
   1. Definition of Support Animal. A "support animal" is an animal that provides emotional or other support that ameliorates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability. Unlike service animals, support animals need not be trained to perform work or tasks and may include species other than dogs and miniature horses.
   2. Use of Support Animals.  Support animals shall not be allowed to accompany students on Lakeview College of Nursing campus or clinical sites.  Any student required to stay overnight out-of-town to attend a clinical may bring a support animal to accompany them, but will be required to make arrangements for separate, off-campus hotel accommodations, and provide appropriate lodging for the animal during clinical hours, all at the student’s sole expense.