Requesting specialized housing accommodations due to a disability involves planning and careful consideration.  All housing requests are carefully considered in accordance with DSS guidelines.  All current and prospective Eckerd College students are expected to follow housing policies and procedures developed by the Housing Office and Division of Student Affairs, available by clicking here.  As students consider their intention to request specialized housing, they should be aware of their responsibilities as outlined in the Room Draw Guidelines Book, EC-Book and the Housing Agreement.

Specialized housing accommodations are not granted to accommodate a specific diagnostic condition or label, but the documented impact of a disability.  Consequently, sometimes a medical condition may reach the level of needing accommodations and other times will not.  Guidelines for evaluating the potential impact of a medical condition and granting accommodations at Eckerd College are available by clicking here.

Current Students: Students who currently have a specialized housing accommodation, and wish to request a similar accommodation for the 2012-2013 academic year must:

• Contact Scott Strader, Director of Counseling Services, via email (stradesc@eckerd.edu) with their request no later than 5pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012.
• Describe their current housing accommodation, and
• Specify the specialized housing accommodation they are requesting for Fall, 2012.

The email should specify whether students intend to "squat" their existing room.  All current roommates must agree to "squat" the same room together for the Fall Semester.  Updated medical documentation may be required, even if no change is requested in an existing accommodation.

Students who do not currently have a specialized housing accommodation, but wish to request an accommodation for the 2012-2013 academic year, must contact Scott Strader, Director of Counseling Services, by 5pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012.  Students must submit documentation from a treating medical or psychological professional certifying the condition with recommendations for housing accommodations. 

Incoming students requesting a specialized housing accommodation are expected to submit documentation to the Office of Counseling Services no later than June 1, 2012 for the Fall Semester.  Students who make their final decision to attend Eckerd College after this date, and wish to request specialized housing, must contact the Office of Counseling Services within one week of submitting their deposit to the Admissions Office.

Pet Accommodations:  At times, students may wish to have a pet on campus in a way that does not follow the guidelines of the current Pet Policy, to accommodate a medical or psychological condition or disability.  These requests are handled as Specialized Housing Accommodations, and managed through Disability Support Services under the procedure outlined on this page.  Documentation of the medical or psychological condition or disability is required.  Guidelines for documentation are available here.  Following review of the documentation, a recommendation for granting the request will be forwarded to the pet council for review and action.