Miami is committed to providing a residential living experience that supports student success in academic and co-curricular interests. The Campus Services Center provides a wide range of residential living options. In some instances students may need housing accommodations due to disability related needs.

Requests are reviewed by the Housing Accommodation Committee which is comprised of staff from the Miller Center and Campus Services Center. When making determinations, the committee considers severity of the condition, timing of the request, space availability and all available campus support services. Examples of committee considerations include:

• Is the request an integral part of providing equal access to the student residential experience?
• Are there other effective means (such as alternative accommodations and/or services) that would mitigate the disability related barrier and achieve similar benefits as the requested accommodation?
• Is the impact of the condition life-threatening if the request is not met?
• Is space available to meet the student’s need?

The committee supports Miami’s commitment to the 2 year residency requirement and all on campus accommodations will be explored and exhausted.

General Timeline and Deadlines

Students should allow between 2 - 4 weeks for the affiliation process and accommodation specific steps to be completed. Requests are only reviewed once all appropriate documentation has been received.

• Incoming Students: The priority deadline for housing accommodation requests is May 1st.
• Returning Students: The priority deadline for housing accommodation requests is March 1st.

The committee meets bi-weekly and students are notified of a decision within 7-10 business days after a determination is reached. Outside of the priority deadline, the committee will review applications. While requests submitted after these dates will be accepted and considered, determinations will be made in relation to space and availability at the time of the request.

Important Considerations

Please review the following points prior to requesting a housing or dining accommodation:

• Requests for accommodations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and receipt of disability verifying documentation does not guarantee the request will be approved.
• The diagnosis of a medical condition in and of itself does not automatically qualify a student for accommodations.
• Various accommodations and services may be suggested as alternatives to the requested accommodations. For example, a single room may not be approved if an alternate accommodation or service can effectively mitigate a disability related barrier.
• Requests for single rooms due to the need for a quiet, distraction-reduced study space can often be met using study spaces available on campus.
  
  • Generally, a diagnosis of ADHD or other learning disability will not, by themselves, adequately support requests for disability-related housing accommodations.
• A release from the University’s two year live-on campus housing requirement is generally not considered a reasonable accommodation. Most housing or dining accommodations can be made among the various residential facilities on campus.
• Requests that reflect personal preferences for specific room or roommate assignment requests is not generally recommended as an accommodation.
• A nutritionist is available to meet with students who have food allergies to educate students on-campus dining options that will meet their need.