Animals on Campus – January 19, 2027

Tuesday, January 19, 2027 2:00 – 3:30 pm ET Navigate Legal Requirements, Strengthen Policies & Respond With Confidence Colleges and universities face complex challenges balancing animal-related accommodations with disability rights, safety, housing requirements, and the needs of the broader campus community. Confusion about legal obligations, documentation, access, and when an animal may be excluded can lead to inconsistent decisions, conflict, and legal risk. This webinar goes beyond the basics of service-animal law to address the difficult situations that arise across campus. Explore practical strategies for responding to disruptive animals, competing accommodation needs, unexpected animal access, and questions from faculty and staff. Learn how clear policies, consistent decision-making, and coordinated training can help your institution protect disability rights while managing safety and operational concerns. Join us on January 19, 2027 to explore how to distinguish among different categories of animals, identify the applicable legal framework, and respond to common campus scenarios with greater confidence. Topics Covered Gain tools and strategies to help you: Distinguish among service animals, emotional support/assistance animals, and pets and understand why those distinctions matter legally. Identify which federal laws and legal standards apply in different campus settings, including classrooms, housing, offices, events and other facilities. Know what you may and may not ask when determining whether an individual may be accompanied by an animal. Respond appropriately to disruptive, aggressive, uncontrolled, or potentially unsafe animals without improperly denying disability access. Navigate competing rights and concerns, including allergies, phobias, safety concerns, and requests involving multiple individuals with disabilities. Presenter Daiquiri Steele, J.D., Ph.D. serves as an Assistant Professor of Law at The University of Alabama School of Law. She teaches Employment Discrimination, Employment Law, Labor Law, Education Law, Torts, Civil Rights, and Legislation & Regulation. Click here for full bio.