Skip to Main Content
Menu
Roane State Community CollegeRoane State Community College

Roane State Community College

RSCC Policies & Guidelines
  1. RSCC HomeRSCC Home
  2. About Roane State
  3. RSCC Policies & Guidelines
Move Forward. Don't delay your future! Apply now! Register for online or traditional classes.Move Forward. Don't delay your future! Apply now!. Register for online or traditional classes.
Tennessee Reconnect and Promise. Graduating high school seniors can attend tuition-free. Free tuition for adults.Tennessee Reconnect and Promise. Graduating high school seniors can attend tuition-free. Free tuition for adults.
Online degrees available. Choose from seven completely online programs.Online degrees available. Choose from seven completely online programs.

RSCC Policy GA-36-01; Animals on Campus

Roane State Community College
Policy Number: GA-36-01
Subject: Animals on Campus
  1. Scope
    It is the policy of Roane State Community College (RSCC) to provide a safe environment for all students, employees, guests and visitors to the college. Toward this end, the following policy regarding animals on campus (including service animals and other categories of animals) shall be enforced and shall apply to all members of the campus community as well as all individuals using the campus grounds or buildings, including all RSCC campus locations.
  2. General Provisions
    1. No animals, except those exempted below, are permitted in campus buildings.
    2. Animals, including comfort animals, are permitted on campus grounds so long as they are under the control of an individual (either by leash, other restraining or containment device, or by voice command).
    3. Individuals bringing animals to campus under permitted provisions must ensure that the animal’s behavior or presence is not disruptive to campus operations or destructive to campus property.
    4. Individuals bringing animals to campus are responsible for collecting and properly disposing of their animal’s waste in outdoor trash receptacles.
    5. Individuals will be liable for any accident or damage caused by the animal.
  3. Service Animals

    1. A dog or miniature horse as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), and/or the federal regulations related to those laws. The work or task a service animal has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability.
    2. In Training - A dog or miniature horse that are in the process of being trained as a service animal as defined by T.C.A. § 62-7-112. However, the dog guide trainer shall present for inspection credentials issued by an accredited school for training dog guides.
    3. Service animals are working animals, not pets. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.
    4. In order to provide equal opportunity to disabled individuals and obtain employment education and services, it is the policy of Roane State Community College to allow disabled individuals to use service animals subject to the conditions stated below.
    5. A service animal is permitted in all classrooms, offices, hallways, eating areas, theatre, gymnasium, meeting rooms, restrooms, and other sites on campus, provided that:

      1. The service animal is in a harness or kept on a leash. However, service animals kept in good control by a disabled employee need not be in a harness or on a leash at an employee’s own work station. Other exceptions to this policy are made on a case by case basis.
      2. The service animal is adequately controlled so as to present no undue noise or disruption to others.
      3. The service animal is healthy and creates no danger of infection, transmission of disease, or other health problems to people. The animal must be immunized against diseases, and all vaccinations must be current.
      4. The service animal must be housebroken. The owner/keeper must collect and properly dispose of waste in outdoor trash receptacles.
      5. The service animal must be properly groomed and be free of fleas and other similar conditions.
      6. When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are permitted by ADA.

        1. The offices of Disability Services, Human Resources and the Dean of Students are the only personnel that may ask the owner/keeper only two questions:

          1. is this dog a service animal because of a disability, and
          2. what work or task has the dog been trained to perform.
        2. Staff cannot ask about a person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.
      7. Roane State employees, students, or agents assume no responsibility for controlling, keeping, feeding, or otherwise caring for any service animal.
      8. The college and its employees assume no legal responsibilities for any injury or damage caused by a service animal.
    6. Other Animals on Campus

      1. Animals used for college-related instructional and/or demonstrational purposes are exempt from this policy provided that the individual, group, or organization bringing the animal to campus has received approval from the office of the Dean of Students or the responsible campus dean/director (Laboratory animals must be adequately provided for at all times and provisions made for their care on holidays, weekends, etc.).
      2. Fish maintained appropriately in aquariums are exempt from the provisions of this policy.
      3. Animals on campus as part of events scheduled at the Henry-Stafford Agricultural Exposition Center are subject to the policies of the center.
      4. Animals kept as pets on college property are exempt from the provisions of this policy, when that property also serves as a private residence for the college or guests of the college. In these cases, the provisions listed above for “permitted” animals also apply.
    7. Job applicants and employees of RSCC shall not be discriminated against in any aspect of employment because of an individual’s use of a service animal in conformance with this policy. Allowing the use of a service animal shall, in most cases, be a reasonable accommodation that allows an applicant, employee, or student worker to qualify for the job in question. However, if the use of the service animal substantially interferes with the performance of essential job tasks, the accommodation may be re-evaluated.
    8. No employee, agent, representative, student, or other person affiliated with RSCC shall discriminate against an individual because of the use of a service animal in conformance with the requirements of this policy. No disabled person shall be prevented from entering, remaining, or using facilities of the college because of the use of a service animal, unless such use is not in conformance of the requirements of this policy.
  4. Failure to Comply

    1. Individuals (students, employees, visitors/guests) who bring unauthorized animals into campus buildings and/or whose animal’s behavior is disruptive and/or destructive will be asked to remove them. Repeated violations will result in disciplinary and/or further legal action.
    2. Unattended or unrestrained animals will be removed from campus property by a local animal control service.
    3. Damage to property that is a direct result of an animal brought to campus will be the sole responsibility of the individual in whose care the animal was brought to campus.
  5. Contacts

    1. Student Assistance: Students who require accommodations for the use of a service animal should contact the RSCC Disability Services office at extension 2003. Students may also contact the Dean of Students with questions or complaints at ext. 4540, Harriman Campus.
    2. Employee Assistance: Faculty or staff who require a service animal should consult the Human Resources director or the Disability Services director, Harriman campus, ext. 4679.
    3. Visitors/guests requiring a service animal should contact the RSCC Police Department at ext. 4500 or the Dean of Students at ext. 4540, Harriman campus.
  6. Exceptions to the Policy
    The Vice President of Business and Finance or designee must approve any exceptions to this policy at ext. 4517, Harriman campus. Please refer to the Facilities Use policy.

The Dean of Students shall be responsible for development and maintenance of this policy for issuance by the president.

Revision History: 12/04/2006, 06/04/2015, 01/10/2018

Revision History: 12/04/2006, 06/04/2015, 01/10/2018
TBR Policy Reference: 1.03.02.55
Revision Date Effective: 09/14/2020
Revision Approval By: Christopher L. Whaley, President
Original Date Effective: 10/25/2004
Original Approval By: Wade B. McCamey, President
Office Responsible: Vice President for Business & Finance
Reviewed: 09/14/2020

Connect with us

Twitter / XFacebookInstagramThreadsYoutube
© Roane State Community College

Roane State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin, sex, disability, age, status as protected veteran or any other class protected by Federal or State laws and regulation and by Tennessee board of Regents policies with respect to employment, programs, and activities.​​​​​​​ View full non-discrimination policy.

Tennessee's Community Colleges

Report Fraud, Waste and Abuse

Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998