Res Life Accommodations

Siena Heights University and Residence Life are committed to the full participation of students with disabilities in all aspects of college life, including residential and dining experiences. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, along with the mission of the Dominican Sisters, Siena Heights seeks out to create this community for all students. Below you will find the established procedures to ensure that students with documented disabilities have access to reasonable University housing and meal plan accommodations.  Virtually all student needs can be met through the standard room selection process or new student assignment process, but if there is a condition that cannot be met through this process, there is a process for special housing considerations.

Procedures for Requesting Accessibility Accommodations in University Housing:
Students must submit requests each academic year to renew existing accommodations, or request new accommodations by the below dates. Once the complete application and documentation has been reviewed by Office of Accessibility, it will be forwarded to the Housing Committee and you will receive an e-mail indicating the status of your request from Office of Accessibility, typically within 2-4 weeks of your completed submission (if submitted after cut-off date, may take up to 6 weeks).

Those applying for housing accommodations should still go through the Room Selection process for 2024-2025 housing.  You will be notified before the first room selection date of your accommodation status.

With this in mind we have developed requirements and criteria for students living on-campus, before they are able to receive off-campus exemptions through Residence Life.  Students must live on campus for three years (excluding commuter students), and accommodations are not to be used to circumvent this process.  All attempts will be made to reasonably accommodate the student on-campus.  This said, the non-disability exemptions for SHU include:

• Be 21 years of age
• Reach Senior status
• Married
• Parent of dependent
• Veteran

Requests are reviewed on a regular basis and the Housing Accommodations Committee will notify students of the decision in writing via their SHU email.  Requests may be denied for insufficient information, inaccurate/false information, or determining the condition does not rise to the level of disability.   However, students will generally have the opportunity to re-apply if new information or additional physician documentation is available for submission related to the original request.  

If it is determined a student’s needs do not warrant the requested accommodation, returning students should participate in the regular room selection process during their scheduled log-on time to make their housing assignment selection or new students will be assigned by the Residence Life Office solely based upon the information provided on the Housing Application. 

Students must reapply for housing accommodations each academic year. 

Process:
Documentation is needed to support the need for accommodation for disability.  The Director of Accessibility in consultation with the Housing Committee will determine reasonable accommodations.  Factors that the Committee will consider when evaluating requests for accommodations:

• Is the impact of the condition life-threatening if the request is not met?
• Is the request an integral part of the treatment plan prescribed by a medical professional for the condition in question?
• Was the request made by the priority deadline?  (Medical needs will not be turned down based on this deadline, but the student may be placed on a waitlist while all attempts to accommodate are made)
• Is there space available to meet the student needs?

It may be helpful to note that due to the nature of living in a residence hall community, a request for a quiet hall is not a medical accommodation that can be met.  Additionally, because a residence hall is shared by hundreds of students participating in various activities throughout the day, living in a single room does not necessarily provide the student with a quiet, distraction free environment.

Housing Accommodation Packet: This packet has two parts.  The first section of the form is to be filled out by the student and then forwarded to their medical or mental health professional to complete and fax/email back directly to the Office of Accessibility. 

Dietary Requests:

Due to liability reasons, all window air conditioners must be owned, installed, removed, and serviced by Siena Heights University–no student installed and owned AC are permissible.

FOR QUESTIONS:
Office of Accessibility, Julia Cassell 
Siena Heights University
1247 East Siena Heights Drive
Ledwidge Hall
Adrian, MI 49221

Jcassell@sienaheights.edu