Chapter 8 - Residence Hall Policies and Procedures

Introduction

By choosing to live in the residence halls, Emmanuel College students accept the responsibilities that accompany this decision. While students self-determine many aspects of their living environment, they recognize that common rules establish a foundation for a positive community. This atmosphere affords students the opportunity for individual growth and maturity.

Students are responsible for knowing, understanding and abiding by the following guidelines. Any violations will result in disciplinary action determined by the Director of Residence Life, Associate Director of Residence Life, an Assistant Director of Residence Life, the Dean of Students, Dean of Campus Life or other College official:

  • The College reserves the right to relocate a student to another room and/or building.
  • The College reserves the right to decide who may or may not stay in the residence halls.
  • Students must be in good financial standing in order to move into the residence halls.
  • All students must enter and exit the residence hall through the main entrance. Side doors are alarmed 24 hours a day and may be used only as emergency exits. The front doors of the residence hall are locked at all times except when the College deems it appropriate for doors to remain open.
  • Residents of the building must use their Emmanuel College ID to gain access to the residence hall. Guests of the building must follow appropriate sign-in procedures and will be buzzed in by the front desk staff. A student who does not live in a particular residence hall is considered a visitor and must follow the Visitation Policy as outlined below.
  • Students must also have submitted all the necessary health immunizations requirements.
  • Students are also required to demonstrate behavior set forth by the institution regarding COVID-19 policies within the residence halls. These expectations will be communicated by the institution based upon need. 
  • Emmanuel students who wish to visit the public space in St. Ann Hall, St. Julie Hall, Loretto Hall, Notre Dame Campus, or St. Joseph Hall may be asked to show or surrender their identification card and to follow the procedures established for monitoring the facility they are interested in using.

Residence Life Staff

The Residence Life staff at Emmanuel College is committed to ensuring that students living on campus have a living and learning environment that is safe, just and developmental. The staff offers students opportunities to explore new experiences, enhance personal growth, build new relationships, and play an active role in celebrating and promoting the ideals of a Catholic community.

Housing Operations

Residence Hall Damage Responsibilities

  • Each student is responsible for the care and appearance of his/her room. Students are not allowed to paint their rooms or damage the walls in any way. No items may be affixed to student room doors as adhesive damages the surface.
  • A Resident Assistant (RA) indicates the condition of furniture and the room's general condition prior to student move in using a physical inventory form. This form is used to assess damage to the room and or college property when a resident moves out and or during closing.
  • An RA must inspect each student's room before check-out. The RA indicates the condition of the room on the digital Physical Inventory Form. After review of the forms and the physical space, the Residence Director will determine appropriate damage billing, if any. These forms are the basis for damage assessments with final assessment occurring after students leave. Students are held accountable for the cost of replacement, repair, or damage.
  • Residents are not permitted to use nails, glue, thumbtacks, etc. If any damage occurs (holes, paint chips, etc.), residents will be responsible for the repair of the damage.

  • Residents will be held liable for the cost of any damage to their assigned rooms and to common areas. If staff cannot determine clear responsibility for damage to common areas, the College will divide the cost of damage among all residents in the area. The cost of the damage will be added to the student's account and a financial hold will be placed on the account until the damage fees are paid. 

    Whenever a student moves out of a room, that student must officially check out of that space. The process for this will be outlined by the Office of Residence Life and Housing in communications directly to the student.

Cancellation of Housing Assignment Policy

During the room selection process, Residence Life and Housing will set forth deadline for canceling one's housing assignment. Once this deadline has passed, students will be required to complete a Housing Petition to review the extenuating circumstances between when the student signed the Housing Lease and the present. The petition will be reviewed by the Housing Petition Board. The Board will review the petition and any appropriate accompanying documentation. If the appeal is granted, students are responsible for the cost of housing according to the College withdrawal policy. Please contact the Office of Residence Life and Housing for more details. Students who are approved to cancel are required to check out of their rooms properly as stated above. Students must be fully registered for classes in order to be eligible to remain in housing for the academic year.

Physical Inventory Forms

Each year, Resident Assistants make note of room conditions using a physical inventory form for each room. Damage or defects in resident rooms should be reported to the Resident Assistant (RA) and/or an Assistant Director/Resident Hall Director (AD/RD). Reports should also be made when equipment or College property is damaged. Furniture must be kept clear of the technology outlets. The physical inventory form from the beginning of the student's time in the room to the completion of the academic year will be used to assess damages after closing.

Room Assignments/Changes

Residents must discuss possible changes with their roommates. The residence hall staff is available to assist roommates resolve issues should they arise. If you do need to change roommates, you will need to first contact the RA on your floor, who will, if necessary, then escalate the situation to the AD/RD of your residence hall.

Room Inspection and Entry

College staff members may enter student rooms for reasons of health and safety inspections, emergencies, suspicion of illegal activities/policy infractions, or maintenance concerns. By submitting a work order, you are giving permission for your room to be entered for repairs, etc. Notice of coming health and safety inspections will be posted throughout the entire residence hall prior to the actual inspection. College personnel will not intrude into your personal effects or otherwise search your room except with your permission or by appropriate legal authority with a search warrant. Prohibited items such as pets, firearms, incense, candles, and unauthorized appliances will be removed, and you will be notified of such removals.

Residence Hall Policies and Information

Bicycles

The bike room is located in the basement of St. Julie Hall. The process for registering one's bike and gaining access to the bike room is done through Campus Safety.

Candles/Incense

Candles and Incense are not allowed per Fire Safety regulations. This includes items that melt wax. If items are confiscated, then arrangements must be made to retrieve these items prior to leaving for the end of the semester. Please speak directly to your Resident Director.

Door Tags & Room Decorations

No items may be affixed to student room doors as adhesive damages the surface. Residence Life will post community building items on these doors. Ceiling decorations and tapestries/flags (any pieces of fabric that hang on the wall) are permitted if it covers only 25% of any given space.

Fire Safety

  • If a student discovers a fire, the student should pull the closest fire alarm and immediately leave the building according to evacuation procedures. The student can then notify Campus Safety (617-735-9888 or 617-735-9710).
  • Every student must evacuate the building immediately when the fire alarm rings. Do not wait for the RA to tell you to evacuate. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action and a fine.
  • Each student is responsible for knowing the fire exits throughout the building.
  • Elevators should never be used when the fire alarm rings.
  • Emergency exits may be used in case of emergency only.
  • It is both a state (Mass. General Laws Ch. 29, Sec. 13) and federal offense to tamper with fire equipment such as alarms, fire extinguisher, or other fire safety equipment. Students who tamper with such equipment will receive disciplinary action up to and including removal from the residence halls.

  • Candles, incense, live Christmas trees, microwave ovens, toasters and toaster ovens, hot plates, electric heaters, rice cookers, hot pots, coffeemakers and other like items may not be used or stored in student rooms. Hot pots, coffee makers, rice cookers, and microwaves must be used in the kitchen area located on each floor in the traditional buildings. Individual single serve coffee makers are permitted. Please note that students living in St. Julie Hall are permitted to bring one traditional kitchen item into the unit. Microwaves must be brought in by residents. 

    Halogen lamps are not allowed in the residence halls. The intense heat given off by the light bulb is a fire hazard.

Furnishings

All bedrooms in traditional residence halls are fully furnished with desk, desk chair, bed/bedframe and dresser and wardrobe. Students are not permitted to bring their own mattresses. Residence Life will not remove any provided furniture from the room. Residence Life & Housing encourages students and their roommate(s) to coordinate who will bring certain items, including, but not limited to, mini fridge, television, other electronic equipment, and rugs. Rooms are not carpeted, but an 8' x 10' (2.4 m x 3 m) rug works great in any room if you would like to bring your own.

Students are limited to one mini fridge per double/triple room. In the quads in St. Ann Hall and Loretto Hall, students may have two mini fridges.

Please note that in St. Julie Hall and other college-sponsored housing, all furniture must remain in its designated location. Furniture in the bedroom must remain in the bedroom and cannot be moved into the common living area outside of individual bedrooms.

Gambling

Emmanuel College students are expected to abide by all policies of the College including but not limited to those in the Student Guide, in the Academic Catalog and on the website. Gambling on campus is a direct violation of the Emmanuel Student Code of Conduct.

Guest Visitation Policy

The Residence Hall Guest Visitation Policy is designed to balance the needs and interests of all members of the residence community while supporting residence hall safety, resident comfort, student development, academic achievement, and campus community. Regular visitation hours establish regular parameters within which students can visit with friends and family while maintaining a living environment conducive to privacy, sleep, and study. After hours/overnight visitation hours recognize that late-night socializing is an important part of developing community, and that students frequently study into the early morning hours in groups in the residence halls.

Finally, the College recognizes that hosting family and friends strengthens long-distance relationships. It is important to emphasize that as a Catholic College, Emmanuel does not condone sexual activity in the residence halls and strives to endow students with the tools, knowledge, and resources to behave in a moral, ethical and respectful manner at all times. Further, Emmanuel is committed to supporting resident student rights to privacy, sleep, and study. When roommates cannot agree, the right of the roommate to occupy her/his room has priority over the right of the roommate to have an afterhours/overnight guest. Students are expected to bring any problems or concerns to the Residence Life staff. Students who are uncooperative with their roommate, or who violate the guest policy can expect to have their guest privileges and residency reviewed and potentially revoked.

To support first year students during their transition and to comply with the educational mandate set forth by Title IX Legislation, the Office of Residence Life and Housing engages first year students in conversations, workshops and on-line education on topics relevant to student safety, residence hall living, and academic success. Prior to hosting after hours/ overnight guests, resident students must complete this training. This process and all relevant deadlines will be communicated by the Office of Residence Life and Housing.

Regular Visitation

Regular visitation is defined as: 8:00 a.m.–Midnight, Sunday–Thursday; 8:00 a.m.–2:00 a.m., Friday and Saturday.

During regular visitation hours, Emmanuel students:

  • May travel without escort on all floors in a building in which they live during the hours stated above.
  • In buildings in which they do not live, they must leave an Emmanuel College ID at the desk but do not need to be escorted.

After Hours/Overnight Visitation

After hours/overnight visitation is defined as: Midnight –8:00 a.m., Sunday–Thursday; 2:00 a.m.–8:00 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Emmanuel students who wish to stay after hours or as an overnight guest of another Emmanuel student:

  • Must be signed in by their host on the After-Hours/Overnight List online. Names must be on the list by midnight.
  • All roommates must consent to the guest staying.

Resident Requirements for Hosting Non-Emmanuel Guests

  • All residents are responsible for the actions of their guests and must ensure that they are familiar with applicable college rules and regulations.
  • All guests are required to sign in, leave a picture ID and be always escorted by his/her host.
  • Hosts must sign in and sign out guest(s) from the building every time they enter and exit.
  • All residents can sign in no more than three (3) guests per visit.
  • Guests may not be left alone in any room without their host. Should the host need to separate from their guest for a brief period, they can name a resident escort to take their place by signing the guest in under the new host's name at the front desk.
  • All guests are required to leave by midnight during the week and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday unless they are signed in as after-hours/overnight guests.
  • Any Emmanuel resident expecting a guest to arrive and stay after hours/overnight is required to have the guest's name on the After-Hours/Overnight List online. Names must be on the list by midnight.
  • All roommates must consent to the guest staying.
  • No guests may stay more than three consecutive nights or three nights in a seven-day period.
  • No non-Emmanuel guests may stay after hours or overnight during the final examination, 24-hour quiet period.
  • Residents and/or guests are not permitted to sleep in any public lounges, including the floor lounges and the Foyer Lounge.
  • The College reserves the right to remove and/or ban guests.

Family Guests

  • Parents must leave an identification card and be escorted by a resident, but do not need to be signed in if it is a short visit.
  • Guests under the age of 16 and parents may not stay overnight. Please see your AD/RD for the guest policy regarding 16- and 17-year-old guests. In unusual circumstances, the Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean of Students, or designee may grant special permission (three-day notice required).
  • Any guests found to be a disturbance to the community may be escorted off campus and asked not to return.

Hall Sports

Hall sports are not allowed. Sports may be played in designated areas outside buildings. Any damage, which results from hall sports in non-designated areas, will be charged to the student(s) responsible. Students are expected to carry items such as skateboards, rollerblades, basketballs, and soccer balls to the entrance of the buildings. These and other sports activities are to be undertaken out of doors only and always at the student’s own risk.

Please note that any sports related activities that are designed around alcohol are prohibited. For example, water pong, flip cup, i.e., are prohibited.

Hallway/Bathroom Etiquette

In most cases, although hallways are coed by room, bathrooms are designated by gender. In our satellite facilities, bathrooms are sometimes shared by members of opposite genders. Travel to and from the bathroom calls for an expected level of decorum and modesty. Students are expected to appropriately cover themselves when travelling to and from the common area restrooms and within the restrooms themselves. Students are expected to treat all people with respect and dignity.

Laundry

In St. Julie Hall, each apartment contains a washer and dryer within unit at no additional cost.
In St. Ann Hall, Loretto Hall, St. Joseph Hall and Notre Dame Campus, each area has laundry facilities serviced by Automatic Laundry. Payment for laundry services can be completed via the Automatic Laundry app, or at the machines by using credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. These machines do not accept quarters or Fenway Cash.

Lockouts

Between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, residents who lock themselves out of their rooms must go to the front desk of their building where an Office Assistant will be available for assistance. When the Office of Residence Life and Housing is closed, the Resident Assistant (RA) on duty will be available to assist locked out residents. This RA may be contacted by calling the RA on Duty phone or asking the front desk for assistance. Students who are negligently locked out of their room will documented in a form. After two weeks into the academic year, students will incur a charge of $5.00 for each subsequent lockout for the remainder of the academic year. All charges will be billed at the end of the academic year. Similar charges will be assessed for those living in St. Joseph Hall who attempt to enter the building without their student ID. Lockouts due to mechanical error (i.e., lock not functioning, ID card intact and present with the student at the time of the lockout but not functioning) will be documented but will not result in a lockout fee.

Noise Policy/Quiet Hours

Quiet Hours begin at 11:00 p.m. on every floor on nights when there are classes the following day and are in effect until 8:00 a.m. the following morning. Quiet hours begin at 1:00 a.m. on every floor on nights when there are no classes scheduled for the following day and are in effect until 9:00 a.m. the next morning. Quiet hours are strictly enforced. Courtesy Hours are in effect throughout the building 24 hours a day. Courtesy Hours entail the expectation that residents will lower their volume or that of their music or television at the request of another resident. During final examinations, 24-Hour Quiet Hours are in effect and remain so until the close of the residence halls. Specifics for the start of 24-Hour Quiet Hours will be publicized by the Office of Residence Life and Housing prior to the end of classes.

Personal Property

Please see the below tips from Campus Safety regarding protecting your personal property:

  • Don't give anyone your ID or code to your room.
  • Don't leave valuables or cash where someone can easily pick them up.
  • Don't leave valuables in classrooms, cars, the library or dining facilities.
  • Report any suspicious or unauthorized person.
  • Report any broken windows or doors.
  • Report any door-to-door solicitors who do not have proper authority to be on campus.
  • Report anyone looking into windows or parked vehicles.
  • Report anyone hanging around residence halls, hallways, or other campus buildings with no clear purpose for being there.
  • Report any suspicious vehicles driving around campus.

Remember, do not attempt to stop or restrain a suspicious or unauthorized person. Call Campus Safety at 617 735-9710.

Pets

Students are not allowed to have pets in the residence hall except for small fish. If there are any questions about the pet policy, please contact the Office of Residence Life and Housing via email at reslife2 [at] emmanuel.edu. For inquiries regarding support animals, please contact Noelle Galli, Accommodations Coordinator in Student Accessibility and Accommodations (gallin [at] emmanuel.edu).

If an unauthorized animal is located within the room or apartment, the student will be given a specified duration of time to remove the animal based upon the situation. However, the student should expect to remove the animal between 24 to 48 hours after discovery. Residence Life staff will confirm that the animal has been removed by visiting the student’s room or apartment after the animal is scheduled to depart.

Residential Alcohol Policy

Please see Alcohol Policy in General College Policies. Alcohol policy for those over 21 and living within St. Julie Hall and The Notre Dame Campus will be provided by Associate/Assistant Director overseeing the building. Process for obtaining alcohol privileges in St. Julie Hall or The Notre Dame Campus will be outlined at the beginning of each academic year. Alcohol is not permitted regardless of age outside of St. Julie Hall or the Notre Dame Campus.

Residence Hall Occupancy

  • Gatherings on a floor in the residence halls are restricted to individual student rooms and must conclude by the start of Quiet Hours as described in the Quiet Hours Policy. Please note that there is an expectation of the 24-Hour Courtesy hours.
  • Maximum room capacity will be double the room's designed occupancy plus two (i.e., a double room can have six people in it at a time). Any gathering greater than maximum capacity will be dispersed immediately by members of the residence hall staff.
  • Music must always be kept at a reasonable level and turned down if complaints are made.
  • In accordance with the College alcohol policy, no alcoholic beverages may be served in traditional residence halls. Information on Alcohol Permits will be provided to those eligible apartments in the St. Julie Hall or the Notre Dame Campus.
  • Violations of social gatherings regulations will result in disciplinary action.

Smoking

Please see the Smoking Policy in General College Policies.

Solicitation

Solicitation and the sale of items or services by students on campus (including in residence halls) are prohibited. Students living in Emmanuel College housing may not operate businesses out of their residence hall rooms and may not list their on-campus addresses in conjunction with any business enterprise. No organization, or individual shall solicit in Emmanuel housing at any time.

Solicitation for the benefit of a recognized organization on campus must be cleared through the Division of Student Affairs. Students or student organizations are not permitted to use the Emmanuel College name to solicit funds or services from individuals, companies, or groups without permission from the Division of Student Affairs. Students or student organizations wishing to conduct raffles must secure appropriate permissions.

Additionally, outside individuals or organizations, even if represented by students, may not solicit funds or sell items anywhere on campus or use the campus for solicitation or promotion without authorization from the Dean of Students, Director of Student Involvement and Commuter Engagement, Director of Residence Life or designee.

Temporary Extended Capacity

Due to the significant demand for college housing and the College’s rolling admissions policy, there may be occasions when it is necessary to temporarily add a third person to a double room. The College unconditionally reserves the right to increase the capacity in these situations. Rooms to be tripled will be selected based on size and location, not by order of deposit or number of semesters in housing. In the event a double room is temporarily tripled, all residents will receive a credit to their accounts adjust billing to the triple rate. In these situations, the third person in the room will be made aware that he/she will be relocated when space becomes available. Until the third person is relocated, he/she has an equal right to space in the room.

Use of Residence for Employment or Entertainment

Emmanuel College does not permit residents to use their residence hall room as a place of employment. It is against Emmanuel College policy to use a room for commercial or business use. The College also prohibits paid entertainers from performing in residence hall rooms.

Vacations/Closings

Emmanuel College residence halls are closed during Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks. Summer housing is available at an additional cost. When leaving the residence hall for a break, all residents must follow the Hall Closing Procedures as instructed by staff.

Student Accessibility and Accommodations

For accessibility and accommodations, please contact Noelle Deady, Director and 504 Coordinator, Email: gallin [at] emmanuel.edu (gallin[at]emmanuel[dot]edu); Phone: 617-732-1681. Location: Student Accessibility and Accommodations, Academic Resource Center, Cardinal Cushing Library, G06 (Ground Level), 400 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 

Emmanuel College is committed to the full participation of students with disabilities in all aspects of College life, including residential. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Emmanuel endeavors to provide housing accommodations for full-time undergraduate students with documented disabilities in cases where said disabilities render a standard housing situation inviable.

Important Information Regarding Housing Accommodations

Eligibility for a housing accommodation includes full-time, undergraduate students who wish to live in College housing, are in good judicial and financial standing with the College, have submitted the Residence Life housing lease and deposit by the noted deadline, are currently registered as a full time student, have or are in the process of registering with Student Accessibility and Accommodations (SAA), and have needs that may medically necessitate a housing accommodation. Examples of such needs included students who require mobility assistance, extended apparatus, or invasive medical regimens.

Determination of Reasonableness

The Housing Committee will determine on a case by case basis, if implementing the requested accommodation is reasonable. The Committee may deny the requested accommodation if it is unreasonable.

An accommodation is unreasonable if it: (1) imposes an undue financial and/or administrative burden on the College; (2) fundamentally alters the nature of the College’s operations; (3) poses a threat to the health and safety of others or would cause substantial property damage to the property of others, including College property; and/or (4) is otherwise unreasonable to the operation of the College.

Non-Qualifying Conditions

The following are examples of non-qualifying conditions, not a complete listing of non-qualifying conditions. Temporary, non-chronic impairments of seasonal or short duration (less than 6 months) with little or no residual effects that will not substantially limit a major life activity: common cold, seasonal or common influenza, a sprained joint, minor and non-chronic gastrointestinal disorders, a broken bone

expected to heal completely, appendicitis, and seasonal allergies are usually not qualifying conditions under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Qualifying conditions may include students who have mobility needs that cannot be met in a traditional room, students who have medical needs that involve extensive apparatus, or medicine regimens that may not be conducive in a traditional room.

AIR CONDITIONING: Please be advised that, generally speaking, central air conditioning in St. Julie Hall and Notre Dame Campus is turned off no later than the second week in October and individual air conditioning units in other residence halls are uninstalled at that time. Central air conditioning typically resumes around the second week of May. Seasonal allergies are usually not qualifying conditions under ADA. Students who require filtered air are permitted to bring in their own air purification devices. St. Joseph, St. Ann, and Loretto Halls have limited capacity for room air conditioning units.

SINGLE ROOMS: Emmanuel’s student housing is primarily designed to house two or more students per bedroom. Some of our residence halls do offer a limited number of single rooms. As with all accommodation requests at Emmanuel, qualification for a single residence hall room will be evaluated on an individualized basis. Emmanuel has designed its residential program on the premise that a vibrant, social residence hall environment is fundamental to living and learning at Emmanuel. As such, the request for a single room is utilized as an accommodation only when no other reasonable accommodation would allow a student to participate in our residential program as it is designed.

Steps to pursue housing accommodations:

1. Submission of Forms to SAA:

To initiate the process of pursuing housing accommodations, the student should complete and email the Student Request Form to SAA.

The student's health care provider must complete the *Provider Request Form and return it to SAA.

Appropriate documentation, as requested in the *Provider Request Form, will include the following:

  • A clear diagnosis from a licensed professional who is qualified to evaluate and diagnosis such conditions. This professional may not be a member of the student’s family.
  • Description of the student’s history with the diagnosis.
  • Description of the functional impact and limitations of the disability/condition relative to an academic setting.
  • Current treatment plan, including medications.
  • Recommendation for accommodation(s). (Justification for why recommended accommodation is medically necessary. There must be a clear connection between the functional limitation(s) described and the recommended accommodation).
  • Documentation must be in English and signed and dated.
  • Initial documentation must be current, within one year.

2. Review by the Housing Committee: Complete request packets are sent to the Housing Committee, a team of professional staff from various campus departments. The Committee will determine the feasibility of the request given the College’s available housing stock that would allow for certain physical and mental health accommodations.

3. Outcome and Notification: First, SAA will email students to notify them of the Housing Committee’s decision regarding their eligibility. If an accommodation is available, Residence Life will then notify the eligible student a specific housing placement offer, via email. Any student determined ineligible by the Committee will also be informed and can participate in the regular housing selection.

Eligibility is based on the documentation provided, specific accommodation requests, and the housing stock for such accommodations that is available at the College. Please note that requests may not be fulfilled due to either documentation and/or housing limitations.

Housing Accommodation Deadlines for Documentation

*Students must reapply each academic year for housing accommodations.

Academic Term Student Request & Provider Request Form Deadlines

2024-2025 Academic Year Current/Returning Students: Friday, March 1, 2024 by 2:00 p.m. ET

2024-2025 Academic Year Incoming/Transfer Students: Monday, June 24, 2024 by 2:00 p.m. ET

All requests received after the noted deadline will be reviewed to determine eligibility typically on the last week of each month during the academic year; contact SAA for information on *specific review dates. All request packets must be completed in full at least 5 working days before the review date. Following the review, eligible requests will be considered against the available housing inventory.

  • A student who submits prior to the deadline and declines their housing accommodation offer will participate in the Standard Housing Selection Process through Residence Life.
  • A student who submits after the deadline and declines their offer will remain in their current Residence Life housing placement.

*Current students pursuing the exact housing accommodations for the following school year can indicate this request, along with their provider’s written statement, via email to accommodations [at] emmanuel.edu (ccommodations[at]emmanuel[dot]edu). The Housing Committee will be considering exactly what was previously written. If any new recommendation or request, a new Housing Accommodation Request packet should be submitted.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Certain medical conditions may cause discomfort in a collegiate housing environment, but many medical conditions do not qualify as a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADDA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA) and may not be eligible for housing accommodations.
  • Housing accommodations are based upon medical evidence of need as determined by ADAA and FHA policies and guidelines and are determined on a case-by-case basis by a team of professionals.
  • Housing accommodation eligibility is not guaranteed. A student may be found ineligible for their requested housing accommodations following Committee review of documentation submitted by the student and their health care provider.
  • Specific housing inventory is not guaranteed due to limited availability. Eligible students may be waitlisted if a suitable facility is not immediately available and will be contacted by Residence Life if a facility becomes available.
  • A request should not name specific buildings, but rather describe an environment necessary for accommodating the student's needs. College housing offers limited single-occupancy rooms, mainly at Notre Dame Campus. For questions related to housing availability, contact Residence Life (reslife2 [at] emmanuel.edu) directly.
  • A housing accommodation request is for the individual student with the documented need and cannot consider roommates. Additionally, housing accommodation paperwork cannot cite roommate conflict as a basis for the request. Students experiencing a roommate conflict should contact Residence Life for information on mediation and room change options.

Information regarding Emotional Support Animals:

  • An ESA is an indoor-appropriate animal that may provide psychological, mental, or emotional support to a student. ESAs are not trained and therefore do not perform work or tasks that would qualify them as a "Service Animals" under ADAAA.
  • Typically, ESAs have a pre-established dynamic with the owner, which is thoroughly documented by a diagnosing mental health provider as a proven-therapeutic intervention for a student with a documented disability/impairment.
  • ESAs, if approved, are allowed in the student's dwelling and are not allowed in any other campus buildings or facilities. Generally, only one ESA can be approved for a student in order to fulfill the intent of the FHA requirements in providing support to the student.

Animal Exclusions:

Certain animals will be excluded from consideration as an ESA and will be referred to as "excluded animals."

  • Excluded animals include: animals that are inherently dangerous or predatory (snakes, pythons, birds, etc.), large animals that exceed 30 lbs. at full-growth, and wildlife or endangered species (ferrets, etc.).
  • Animals that require accoutrements that are not permitted in residential buildings (such as heat lamps, live insect food, etc.) will also be considered excluded animals.
  • Animals must be spayed or neutered as the species allows. Emmanuel College reserves the right to request documentation of the applicable procedure.
  • Generally, dogs must be at least 10 months of age before they can live in-residence College housing.
  • Other exceptions may be made as deemed appropriate based upon facility limitations and health and safety needs of the general community.

Emmanuel College may exclude an ESA from campus housing if the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, the animal would cause substantial physical damage to property, the animal would pose an undue financial and administrative burden on the college, the animal would result in a fundamental alteration of the college's program(s); and/or the student does not comply with the guidelines set forth in the Owner's Responsibilities Contract.

Housing Accommodation Deadlines for Documentation

*Students must reapply each academic year for housing accommodations.

All requests received after the noted deadline will be reviewed to determine eligibility typically on the last week of each month during the academic year; contact SAA for information on *specific review dates. All request packets must be completed in full at least 5 working days before the review date.

For complete packets received before the noted deadline, the Housing Committee reviews request packets to determine eligibility. SAA emails students regarding eligibility. Eligible students are responsible for discussing the ESA living arrangements with their roommate(s) and upon agreement, the roommate(s) will sign the Roommate ESA Acknowledgement Form.

Academic Term Student Request & Provider Request Form Deadlines

2024-2025 Academic Year Current/Returning Students: Friday, March 1, 2024 by 2:00 p.m. ET

2024-2025 Academic Year Incoming/Transfer Students: Monday, June 24, 2024 by 2:00 p.m. ET

For complete packets received after the noted deadline, the Housing Committee reviews request packets typically on the last week of each month during the academic year to determine eligibility. SAA emails students regarding eligibility. Eligible students are responsible for discussing the ESA living arrangements with their roommate(s) and upon agreement, the roommate(s) will sign the Roommate ESA Acknowledgement Form.


Upon assignment, the student is expected to comply with all Residence Life requirements and behavior code policies regarding noise, cleanliness, and conduct. Students are solely responsible for their animal's behavior.

Application of the ESA Policy:

  • In applying the above eligibility criteria, Emmanuel will be guided by the following "interpretive principles, rules and factors":
  • The student will have the responsibility of demonstrating, through documented Health Care Provider (HCP) opinion, testimony, and other evidence, that the student would not have been able to use and enjoy Emmanuel housing facilities "but for" the requested accommodation (having the ESA in the dorm room).
  • The student will have the responsibility of demonstrating through HCP opinion, testimony, and other evidence, that the animal is both necessary and reasonable for equal enjoyment and use of Emmanuel housing.
  • The student must demonstrate that no other means and methods (i.e. medication, counseling, other housing accommodations, other available interventions, crisis response mechanisms, or treatments) or combination of means and methods are available to adequately manage symptoms of his/her disability/impairment. If means and methods are available to the student to adequately manage symptoms of his/her disability/impairment, to a degree that the student with the aid of those other means and methods would be able to use and enjoy Emmanuel housing, then this accommodation would not be granted.

Note: These eligibility criteria are based primarily on the relevant provisions of the Fair Housing Act (FHA), 42 U.S.C. 3604(f), and regulatory guidance provided by the US Department of Housing and Development in its Final Rule entitled "Pet Ownership for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities" published in the Federal register on October 27, 2008 (73 FR 63834).

Service Animals

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines service animals as "dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities." The institution may make two inquiries to determine whether the dog qualifies as a service animal, which are:

1. Is the animal required because of a disability?

2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?

For Residential Students inquiring about a service animal, please contact accommodations [at] emmanuel.edu for further guidance.

For accessibility and accommodations, please contact Noelle Deady, Director and 504 Coordinator, Email: gallin [at] emmanuel.edu (gallin[at]emmanuel[dot]edu); Phone: 617-732-1681. Location: Student Accessibility and Accommodations, Academic Resource Center, Cardinal Cushing Library, G06 (Ground Level), 400 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115