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Student Accessibility Services
Housing Accommodations
Process for Requesting Reasonable Accommodations:
The College of St. Benedict and St John’s University are dedicated to providing equal access in residential living spaces for those individuals with documented disabilities. Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is responsible for determining whether to approve or deny housing accommodation requests. In the process of evaluating requests, SAS will consult with Residential Life and other campus departments as needed to make informed determinations.
Requesting a Housing Accommodation:
SAS requires a two-step process for individuals seeking housing accommodations. Students need to log into myCSBSJU to access the forms. Those steps are detailed below:
- Complete the Housing Accommodation Request Form.
- All students are required to submit our Housing Accommodation Documentation Form
Deadline for new requests (not renewals) for pre-selection considerations is March 12th, 2024.
What to expect:
SAS will evaluate complete housing accommodation requests submitted on or before the deadline. Complete requests are those for which the Housing Accommodation Request Form and Documentation Form have been received. Those individuals whose requests are approved will be provided a pre-selection offer of a specific space by Residential Life. SAS will notify students whose requests have been denied.
Requests received after the deadline will not be considered for pre-selection offers.
Housing Renewals
Current students previously approved for accommodations, who are requesting renewals with no significant changes, simply need to complete the Request for Renewal of Housing Accommodation in myCSBSJU by 3/6/2024.
Incoming First Year and Transfer Students:
Housing Accommodation Request Form and Documentation Forms will be reviewed on 7/1/2024. Following this date, requests will be considered on a rolling basis.
Mid-Year Requests
Reasonable accommodation must be provided in a timely manner. Room availability is limited following the housing selection process. We will review mid-year requests; however, we may not have the capacity to meet certain requests after assignments have been made.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs):
Information regarding the ESA process can access this link.
Reasonable Accommodations
- Disability accommodations are deemed “Reasonable”, under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, if they are necessary to ensure equal access to the same opportunities as provided to all CSB+SJU students.
- Accommodations are not considered Reasonable if they are merely to improve chances of success. The College certainly wants all of its students to succeed, however now that the student is an adult, success is the responsibility of the student, not the institution.
- Disability accommodations are only appropriate when there is a barrier to equal access.
- Accommodations are reasonable when they include the student in the same opportunities everyone else has. Accommodations are not reasonable if they let students with disabilities out of the responsibilities or expectations CSB+SJU holds for everyone else.
What does Access vs. Success mean when it comes to campus housing?
Here are some examples of requests where an accommodation would not be approved. In the following scenarios the requested accommodation would be helpful or desirable, and could improve chances of success — especially when the student’s disability makes these situations more difficult. But when, generally speaking, no student has access to the opportunity requested, the request is generally regarded as a fundamental alteration to the college housing program, and legally not considered “Reasonable”.
I have anxiety or depression and I need a single dorm room as a space to be alone or to retreat to and decompress.
In general, CSB+SJU residence hall rooms are double rooms, with the exception of some suites in sophomore housing at CSB and upper class apartments on both campuses. . All Bennies and Johnnies are expected to seek out and discover places in their campus community to decompress, unwind, or process their emotions in places other than the room where they sleep. Here are several ideas:
- Enjoy solitary walks in the arboretum or other outdoor spaces on each campus.
- Find a private nook in the library or other academic buildings to nestle in and read or think.
- Make use of the chapels on each campus for contemplation, meditation, prayer or quiet time.
- Discover the many nooks in academic buildings (the HAB, QUAD, BAC are some favorites), or the Residence Hall lounges.
- Work with Residence Life staff to set up and facilitate a meeting with your roommate. They are skilled at working with roommates in a neutral fashion to help with boundary setting and expectation management to create a healthy living environment for each roommate.
I need a single dorm room because I get too distracted when trying to study or do homework.
CSB+SJU provide many, many places on campus where you can study alone in peace and quiet:
- Discover the many nooks in academic buildings (HAB, QUAD, BAC are some options), or the Residence Hall lounges.
- Empty classrooms and seminar rooms! Any student can “claim” an empty classroom for their study session. Make a sign for the door to say “In use.”
- The Study in the Alcuin Library at SJU
I need a single dorm room because I need to have control over my space.
In typical housing, each student needs to recognize what is in their locus of control in a shared living experience. It is unreasonable to expect to be able to control the entire room. However, it is reasonable to expect to be able to control your own belongings and set boundaries with your roommate accordingly. All Bennies and Johnnies need to learn how to share a space and set boundaries and express them with their roommates. This is an extremely valuable skill living in an intensive residential community, such as CSB+SJU. However, it is a new skill
for many students who either have been only children, or have never had to share a room with a sibling. It gets easier with practice!
- Work with Residence Life live-in staff for guidance on conversation starters and boundary communicating
- Discover the Wellness Center for tips
- Set up a time to meet with one of our campus counselors to discuss strategies
I need a single dorm room because I had a really bad roommate before and I’m scared that that will happen again.
Just about any college alum can recall a less-than-perfect roommate situation. It can happen, and it doesn’t make that past bad experience go away. However, it is possible to move on in a positive way. Taking what you can learn from a bad roommate situation and applying those lessons to a new situation is how to utilize a growth mentality to come through adversity.
- Work with the Counseling Center to talk through your past experiences and determine strategies and receive support for moving into a new roommate relationship
- Make an appointment with Residence Life staff to discuss your fears or concerns
I need a single dorm room because I have medications I fear might be stolen.
All students should consider locking valuables, including medications.
- We recommend buying a lockbox or small safe to keep tucked away and out of sight.
- Lock your dorm room door when you leave.
CSB+SJU reserve the right to amend the Procedure for Requesting Reasonable Accommodations for Housing to ensure it best reflects ADA and relevant laws’ guidance.