Objective: Assess administrative responsibilities and experiential effects of emotional support animal (ESA) and service animal (SA) policies on college campuses. Participants: Students at two four-year universities participated in an emotional support animals and service animals survey. Selected students and professional personnel participated in…

Emotional support animals are increasingly common in residence halls. This study examines the benefits and challenges of having an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) while living in campus housing, from the perspective of the animals' owners and their roommates. Using a mixed methods case study approach, we collected qualitative and quantitative data…

This study examined one Midwestern university's emotional support animal (ESA) population and asked the question, "Are ESAs effective in the context of higher education given the academic and social demands of a student?" The number of ESA requests has increased in recent years as more students considered an ESA to help regulate…

Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model (1979, 1993), we analyzed grounded theory data from 31 student affairs professionals about supporting students with and without disabilities in, and beyond, the university microsystem of housing. Participants described the challenge of simultaneously meeting the needs of students with and without…

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of ESA owners, examine how the ESA policy functions in the undergraduate college setting, and analyze how the disability services offices influenced the ESA policy and campus response to ESAs on two residential college campuses. The conceptual framework of the study was systems theory. A…

This case study is designed for use in graduate courses in student affairs and higher education administration. This case presents some of the challenges that higher education professionals face concerning policies and laws as they relate to student mental illness and emotional support animals. Requests for emotional support animals are becoming…