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Texas Christian University
Student Access & Accommodation

Housing Accommodations

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TCU Housing and Residence Life creates the communities in which students live, study and build friendships. TCU is a residential campus by design, with approximately 5,000 students living on campus. TCU recognizes that students with disabilities may require a housing accommodation to fully participate in the residential component of the university experience. Student Access & Accommodation actively works with TCU Housing and Residence Life to provide housing accommodations within University owned housing. Specific housing accommodations due to disability must be identified by a qualified professional and approved through Student Access & Accommodation.

To apply for a housing accommodation in TCU housing, all students are required to:

  1. Submit an online application for accommodation to the Student Access & Accommodation office. Students will use their TCU username and password to access the online application. Student Access & Accommodation will confirm by email to the student’s official TCU account when the application has been successfully submitted.  
  2. Once the application has been submitted, students will be prompted to submit supporting documentation based on their disability type(s) from an appropriate medical provider that meets the university's official documentation guidelines.
  3. At any point in this process, students can schedule an appointment to speak with a Disability Specialist regarding their accommodation needs. 
  4. All housing accommodation requests are reviewed by the Student Access & Accommodation Documentation Review Committee (DRC). Accommodation requests cannot be reviewed until an application and documentation have been submitted. 
  5. A follow up appointment will be requested once the documentation and accommodation requests have been reviewed. Students will be sent an email through their TCU email account to schedule a follow up appointment to discuss the outcome of the review.

 Things To Remember:

  • TCU will accept requests and consider documentation for accommodation in University housing at any time, but recommends that students start the process as early as possible.
  • For incoming first year students, if the request for accommodation is approved fewer than sixty (60) days before the student intends to move in to University housing, TCU cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet the individual’s accommodation needs during the semester or term in which the request is approved. 
  • For second year students, requests for accommodation need to be approved prior to the housing selection/placement date.
  • Housing accommodations are required to be renewed annually.
  • Housing accommodations that have been approved by Student Access and Accommodation are specific to the student requesting the accommodation and do not apply to roommates/roommate groups. Student Access and Accommodation will not limit room assignments for individuals to any particular residence halls because the individual needs an accommodation because of a disability.
  • If a student chooses to decline their initial accommodated housing placement, Student Access and Accommodation and Housing and Residence Life cannot guarantee accommodated housing for any additional housing assignments within the current academic year. 

Emotional Support Animals (ESA)

An Emotional Support Animal is an animal that an individual with a disability utilizes solely for emotional support, well-being, or comfort. (See TCU’s ESA Policies and Procedures for full details). Emotional Support Animals are not Service Animals under the ADA but may still be permitted, in certain circumstances, in University Housing pursuant to the Fair Housing Act. In order to request the accommodation of an ESA in TCU Housing, students must follow the process outlined below by Student Access & Accommodation.

To apply for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) in TCU housing all students are required to:

  1. Submit an online application for accommodation to the Student Access & Accommodation office. Student Access & Accommodation will confirm by email to the student’s official TCU account when the application has been successfully submitted.
  2. Once the application has been submitted, students will be prompted to submit supporting documentation based on their disability type(s) from an appropriate medical provider that meets the university's official documentation guidelines.
  3. At any point in this process, students can schedule an appointment to speak with a Disability Specialist regarding their accommodation needs. 
  4. All accommodation requests are reviewed by the Student Access & Accommodation Documentation Review Committee (DRC). Accommodation requests cannot be reviewed until an application and documentation have been submitted.
  5. A follow up appointment will be requested once the documentation and accommodation requests have been reviewed. Students will be sent an email through their TCU email account to schedule a follow up appointment to discuss the outcome of the review.
  6. Students requesting an ESA should use  TCU Emotional Support Checklist as a guide in navigating the ESA approval process. 

Things to Remember:

  • ESAs are not allowed in TCU Housing until the ESA has been approved by Student Access & Accommodation and a meeting has been held with the student, Housing & Residence Life, and Student Access & Accommodation.
  • The process of requesting an ESA may take thirty to sixty days from submission of all required forms and documentation.
  • Emotional Support Animals do not qualify as “Service Animals” under the ADA because these animals are not individually trained to perform work or tasks.
  • Generally, the accommodation of an ESA does not extend to other University facilities (e.g. dining facilities, libraries, academic buildings, athletic buildings and facilities, classrooms, labs, individual centers, etc.).