Housing Accommodations

Important Housing Application Requirement

In addition to submitting the Student Form and Medical Professional Form, student must also complete a Housing Application with Residence Life & Housing by their posted deadline.

Visit the Residence Life & Housing website or contact their office at 302-831-4663 to get more information.

How to Request Housing Accommodations

1. Complete the online Housing Accommodation Student Form in the DSS Portal.
2. Have your healthcare provider complete the Housing Accommodation Medical Professional Form (PDF). Submit the completed form through one of the following methods:
   1. Upload to the DSS Portal with your Housing Accommodation Request Student Form (preferred)
   2. Email: dssoffice@udel.edu
   3. Fax: 302-831-3261
   4. Mail: 240 Academy Street, Alison Hall, Suite 130, Newark, DE 19716

Important: Do not submit requests to reside with Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) using the Housing Accommodations Request Student Form. See Service and Emotional Support Animals for details.

Late Requests

Space permitting, requests submitted after the deadline may result in a delay or inability to receive a housing assignment that meets your accommodations.

Deadlines for the 2026–2027 Academic Year

Incoming Students:

First-Year Students: Monday, May 22, 2026 by 5 p.m.

Transfer Students: Tuesday, June 30, 2026, by 5 p.m.

• Complete the Housing Accommodation Student Form in the DSS Portal.
• Submit the Medical Professional Form completed by a healthcare provider through one of the methods listed above.

Returning Students:

Friday, February 27, 2026, by 5 p.m.

• No changes to previously-requested accommodations:
  Complete the Housing Accommodation Student Form only. You do not need to submit additional medical documentation.
• Requesting new or different accommodations:
  A new Medical Professional Form will need to be completed by a healthcare professional and submitted using one of the methods listed above, in addition to completing the Student Form in the DSS Portal.

Service and Emotional Support Animals

Service Animals

A service animal is a guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to take a specific action when needed to assist a person with a disability (ADA, 1990). Service animals are not required to be registered with the University. Students in university housing with a service animal can make Residence Life and Housing aware of their presence.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)

ESAs are animals that provide a sense of safety, companionship and comfort to those with psychiatric or emotional conditions. Because they have not been trained to do a specific task, they do not qualify as a service animal under ADA or Delaware law.

Service Animals and ESAs on Campus

Animals are not permitted in any University building, except for service animals and animals used in teaching or research. Service animals are permitted to accompany their owner everywhere on campus except in situations where safety may be compromised (e.g., due to chemicals, living organisms or health and safety issues). ESAs may be approved to be on campus on a case-by-case basis that is determined by the Office of Disability Support Services and based on individual need. The university must approve ESAs prior to entering student housing.

Process for Requesting an ESA

1. Complete the Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Application* in the DSS Portal.
2. Submit required documentation for review. (See the ESA Application for details.)
3. When all required documentation has been received, DSS will contact you to schedule an ESA Review meeting.
4. Following approval, DSS will notify the student and Residence Life & Housing.

Incoming students requesting an Emotional Support Animal are encouraged to complete the request process as soon as possible once you receive your housing assignment.

For more information, contact the DSS office at dssoffice@udel.edu or 302-831-4643.

*Important: Requests to reside with Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) in university housing must be submitted using the Emotional Support Animal Application in the DSS Portal. Do not submit ESA requests using the Housing Accommodation Student Form.

Residence Hall Fire Safety

Please review important safety information on Residence Hall Fire Safety for Individuals with Disabilities.