Request a Housing Accommodation

  1. Complete the SOAR Student Application to request accommodations.
  2. Submit documentation.

IMPORTANT: Please note that you should not delay meeting with us out of concern for not having the right paperwork. We will discuss specific third-party documentation needs during the Welcome Meeting and steps you can take after the meeting. Our first priority is meeting with you, not reviewing the paperwork. Please email SOAR@furman.edu if you would like to schedule a meeting prior to submitting documentation.

Guidelines for Documentation

Students who wish to request a housing accommodation should have their physician or treating professional submit a letter containing the following information:

  • Patient’s diagnosis/disability
  • How long you have known the patient
  • Methods of evaluation used in making the diagnosis
  • Symptoms and effects of the diagnosis/disability
  • Type of housing accommodation being recommended
  • Rationale: How will the requested accommodation(s) alleviate the symptoms or effects of the diagnosis/disability?
  • The level of need for the requested accommodation and the anticipated consequences of not receiving the requested accommodation

The letter should be on letterhead, dated and signed by the physician.

Students who wish to request an assistance animal as an accommodation should have their treating professional thoroughly complete the Assistance Animal Verification Form. Please be sure to review Furman University’s​ Animal Policy.

All documentation should be uploaded to SOAR Student Application or sent to:

Student Office for Accessibility Resources
Furman University
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC 29613
Fax: 864.294.3044
Email: SOAR@furman.edu

Timeline

Students with disabilities requesting housing accommodations should proceed with the normal housing registration process until a decision regarding eligibility has been reached. Decisions regarding accommodations for these requests can be reached only after appropriate documentation for the disability has been received and evaluated. Evaluating requests takes time. Please allow 4-6 weeks upon receipt of the SOAR Student Application AND all documentation for evaluation and assessment by the Student Office for Accessibility Resources and appropriate campus partners. Consequently, students requesting accommodations should provide this documentation as soon as possible because of the time required to respond to individual requests.

Documentation for accommodations for the spring term must be provided by November 1st. For accommodation requests for the following fall term, current students must provide completed documentation by December 1st, and incoming students must provide completed documentation by June 1st.

Decision

Once the Student Office for Accessibility Resources has received the SOAR Student Application and documentation, the information will be reviewed by SOAR personnel and a professional with expertise in the appropriate area of the diagnosis/disability. In some cases, the student may need to meet with SOAR staff to further discuss or clarify the student’s needs. SOAR will notify the student of the decision. If the accommodation is approved, Housing and Residence Life will also be notified and will contact the student regarding the accommodation.

Requests for accommodations are reviewed on a case by case basis and receipt of the necessary documentation does NOT guarantee that the accommodations will be granted.