Emotional Support Animal (ESA)

Emotional Support Animals are defined as animals that alleviate one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. This animal provides the necessary support to an individual with a documented psychiatric disability and alleviates one or more identified symptoms of the individual’s disability. There must be an established relationship or nexus between the individual’s disability and the assistance the animal provides. It allows the student with a disability to receive full benefit or enjoyment of the residential facility on campus. Emotional Support Animals may not be brought into university housing without expressed approval from Accessibility Resources.  It should be noted that animals needed to alleviate the psychological impact of disabilities may be referred to by different names such as companion animals, therapy animals, comfort animals, etc. At MSU Moorhead, we refer to these animals as Emotional Support Animals or ESAs.

MSUM’s Service Dogs & ESAs Policy

Steps for Requesting an Emotional Support Animals in University Housing

1. Complete the Emotional Support Animal Request for Accommodation Form.
2. Once the request form is received, the Director of Accessibility Resources will send you a form to be completed by a licensed provider.
3. After all documentation is received, the Director of Accessibility Resources will notify Housing & Residential Life of your approved Emotional Support Animal (ESA) accommodation.

Emotional Support Animal Request Accommodation Form