HOUSING ACCOMODATIONS
The Office of Learning & Disability Services receives requests, reviews documentation, and works with the Office of Residence Life to facilitate housing accommodations. All requests for disability-based housing assignments are evaluated individually, on a case-by-case basis. Accommodated housing space is limited and spaces are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis once the completed application (including all required documentation) and any associated deposits are received; therefore, it is necessary to submit requests in a timely manner. All requests for disability-related housing accommodations, along with all required documentation, must be submitted by the following dates:
- New First-Year and Transfer Students: July 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester.
- Continuing Students: February 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester.
All applications submitted will be considered, regardless of timing, however there is no guarantee that the late applicant’s needs, including any needs that develop during the semester, can be met.
Housing accommodation requests are reviewed on an individual basis. It is important to note that students are not making a request for a specific housing assignment (e.g., residence hall, floor, or room), but rather a request for an accommodation. The Housing Accommodation Committee, comprised of representatives from the Office of Learning & Disability Services, the Office of Residence Life, and the Counseling Center, reviews each request and determines an appropriate and reasonable housing accommodation.
Please note that the diagnosis of a medical/psychological condition and a physician’s or therapist’s recommendation do not automatically qualify a student for disability-related housing accommodations. Healthcare providers’ recommendations are considered; however, King University must evaluate housing accommodations through the lens of what is necessary for the student to access and live in college housing. Not all medical conditions rise to the level of being a disability that requires accommodation for the student to access the housing program. The determination is made based on all information relevant to the documented functional limitations caused by the disability in relation to the residential program.
Individuals requesting a housing accommodation related to a mental/emotional disorder (e.g., anxiety, depression, etc.) may be required to submit updated documentation annually.
Commuter Policy Exemption (permission to live off campus)
Generally, exemptions are granted for students whose disability imposes functional limitations that cannot be adequately accommodated within the shared residential space of the University. Exemptions require substantial documentation of needs that cannot be met within the residence hall and/or for whom residential living is not a viable option. Examples of conditions that ordinarily do not warrant a commuter policy exemption include: Asthma, Allergies, Learning disorders/ADHD, Depression, and Anxiety.
Allergies are relatively common and generally not an accommodation issue except when the allergy is severe, as documented by a qualified healthcare provider, and impacts breathing or other bodily functions. Living off campus does not guarantee an allergen-free environment.
Requests for commuter policy exemptions as an accommodation based solely on a desire for a ‘quiet place to study’ or a ‘reduced distraction environment’ will not be granted. The University provides numerous places on campus that can provide this environment thus it is not deemed necessary as a housing accommodation.
Single Rooms
A single room is a disability accommodation only when clinical history and professional documentation clearly demonstrate a history of substantial limitations and provide a rationale that supports the student’s need for a separate living and sleeping space to be able to access and utilize housing. For example, a student who has a medical condition that requires the use of specialized medical equipment may need extra space and/or privacy that is only available in a single room. This is an access need because, without extra space to use medical equipment, the student would not be able to participate equitably in the housing program.
The college has a limited number of single rooms available. The provision of a single room as an accommodation is not common. Therefore, the university cannot offer a single room in every situation. Medical single rooms are reserved for individuals who document substantial needs and for whom living with a roommate is not viable. Examples of conditions that ordinarily do not warrant a medical single include: Asthma, Allergies, Learning disorders/ADHD, Insomnia and sleep problems, Orthopedic problems, Depression, and Anxiety.
ADD, Generalized Anxiety, and Depression are diagnoses commonly presented as reasons a student believes they need a single room. However, these diagnoses rarely present as true barriers to access. Here is some of the reasoning for when a single room may not be determined to be a necessary and reasonable disability accommodation required for access.
What if my diagnosis means I need a quiet space to study?
Resident halls and student housing are designed as living areas. Thus, they do not fall into the category of needing to be quiet study spaces for disabilities that affect focus, concentration or distractibility. Because of the number of people who live in close proximity, it is not logical to assume that having a private room would provide a quiet, distraction-free space to any appreciable degree beyond living in a standard double room. The campus residential experience extends beyond the sleeping space so there are multiple settings on campus (study rooms in residence halls, art and music studios, computer labs, private library study rooms, outdoor hammock spots, etc.) that provide quiet and private places where students can study, relax, or be alone. Tools like noise-canceling headphones, white noise devices, or phone apps can also help block distracting sounds.
What if I need to be alone or have a single room to decompress?
Having a diagnosis of anxiety or depressing and wanting a private space to be alone or to decompress generally does not rise to the level of being a disability that requires a single room to remove the barriers related to access. Students have access to many places on campus and in the community to decompress, unwind, or process their emotions other than the room where they sleep.
What if I need to have a control over my space?
On a college campus, students share spaces with peers in multiple settings including classrooms, campus dining, athletic and performance facilities, etc. Rarely does a student’s disability rise to the level of being unable to do so in a shared living space. In the standard shared residence, students are assigned their own bed, dresser, closet, and study space. When it comes to issues like quiet hours, noise levels, visitors, cleaning responsibilities, etc., living with a roommate can help students learn essential skills like communication, compromise, and respect for others’ boundaries. However, these may be new skills for many students who have never had to share a room with another family member.
Note: King University reserves the right to reserve single rooms for non-disability-related reasons such as, but not limited to, future student needs, emergency housing options, etc.
First Floor Room
First floor rooms are offered as an accommodation to individuals with a physical disability that would make living on higher floors, accessible only by stairs, impossible. The number of first-floor rooms is limited and first-floor rooms are assigned as an accommodation on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are strongly encouraged to observe the deadlines above in making requests.
Priority Access to Bathroom
Priority access to bathroom facilities (the assignment of a room next to or across the hall from a bathroom) are offered as an accommodation to individuals with a documented chronic medical condition that requires such. The number of rooms near bathrooms is limited and such rooms are assigned as an accommodation on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are strongly encouraged to observe the deadlines above in making requests.
Exemption from the Board Fee (Meal Plan)
Exemptions from the mandatory board fee for residential students are exceedingly rare. All such requests require substantial documentation and the establishment that the dietary needs of the student cannot be met by the university’s food services provider. Before such a request is reviewed, the student is required to have a meeting with the Director of Food Services and/or the Executive Chef to discuss the dietary restrictions and/or food allergies that need to be accommodated. In most every case, the food services provider is able to work with the student to develop a plan to accommodate dietary matters without the need for exemption from the board fee. Requests based on personal preferences, versus medical necessity, will not be granted.
Emotional Support Animals
Emotional support animals will be permitted to reside with the student when there is a documented need for the animal to alleviate the functional impact(s) of the individual’s disability and in order to permit the student to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy on-campus residential housing. However, if the animal is not of the type commonly kept in the household for pleasure the animal will generally not be permitted, unless the student demonstrates, via reliable documentation, a disability-related therapeutic need for the specific animal or the specific type of animal. The University will evaluate whether to permit any specific animal on a case-by-case basis. If an emotional support animal is approved, it does not guarantee a single room.
The granting of a reasonable accommodation for a support animal does not mean that the animal is permitted to access other areas of campus in which animals, other than service animals, are prohibited.
A student with an on-campus emotional support animal is responsible for assuring that the animal does not unreasonably interfere with the routine activities of the residence hall, the students who reside there, or the employees who work there. All rules and requirements associated with having an emotional support animal in the residence hall must be followed.
Please see the Animals on Campus Policy for a comprehensive description of the request process and expectations/requirements for having an emotional support animal in the residence hall.
Revised July 2024