The presence of a service animal may present competing educational rights between the service animal’s owner and other members of the College community. The College must manage the rights immediately. At times, the College may need to inform other members of the College community about the presence of a service animal.
The College must protect the health and safety of students, employees, and visitors and therefore may revoke access by the service animal if any one of the following circumstances occurs:
the service animal is out of control, and the owner does not take effective action to control it,
the service animal is not housebroken, or
the service animal’s presence would fundamentally alter the nature of the college service, program, or activity.
The owner of the service animal is solely responsible for the care and supervision of the service animal, including, but not limited to, the following:
walking the service animal,
responding to the service animal’s need to relieve itself,
treating for and keeping the service animal free of fleas and ticks,
keeping the service animal clean and groomed, and
keeping the service animal on a harness, leash, or other tether, unless either the owner is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must otherwise be under the owner’s control.
ensuring the service animal is vaccinated and providing proof of said vaccination as requested by College personnel.
The owner of the service animal is solely liable for any damage to persons, premises, or facilities that are a result of the presence of the service animal.
The owner of the service animal is solely liable for the health and safety of the service animal and acknowledges that some areas of the College, such as, but not limited to, laboratory classrooms, may be more hazardous to animals than other areas. The owner of the service animal is solely responsible for taking the necessary precautions in these and all areas of the College for the health and safety of the service animal.
The owners of the service animals hereby waive all claims on behalf of themselves, their agents, heirs, and next of kin, and hereby agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless the Board of Trustees of Oakton College and its officers, agents and employees from any and all claims of responsibility or liability for personal injury, damage or loss which may occur to persons, premises, facilities, or the service animals themselves, as a result of the presence of their service animals.
Owners do not need to notify the College of service animal use or presence on campus. However, it is the owner’s responsibility to provide service animal documentation upon the request of a College official.
