Franklin & Marshall College

 Health-Related Exceptions to Franklin & Marshall College Housing Policy

 Following are guidelines for the documentation of the need for an exception to the College's housing policy based on a health condition and/or a psychological condition.  The following guidelines have been developed to provide necessary information to the Director of Appel Health Services and/or the Clinical Director of Counseling Services when a request for an exception is made:

 1.  Alternative housing for a physical and/or psychological condition may be requested any time during a semester.  A student is encouraged to investigate this option as soon as he/she is aware of the physical and/or psychological health condition that may necessitate alternative housing.

2.  To provide appropriate alternative housing to a student with a special physical and/or psychological health condition, the College requires that the student provide verification (i.e., all necessary reports and/or evaluations) of his/her health condition at the time alternative housing is requested.  If a student requires an exception effective at the time of the Housing Lottery, verification of an existing condition must be provided two weeks in advance of the Lottery.

3.  In order to consider a request for special housing for a medical condition, a copy of all appropriate medical report/s must be on file in Appel Health Services.  In order to consider a request for special housing for a psychological condition, a copy of all appropriate evaluation(s) must be on file in Counseling Services.

4.  All reports and/or evaluations must be current.  Generally, this means that the reports and/or evaluations must have been completed within the past year.  (Exceptions in some individual circumstances may be appropriate and necessary.)  Telephone calls and brief letters which document past or ongoing treatment are not sufficient.  Persons typically considered qualified to present supportive clinical documentation of the diagnosis are physicians and/or psychologists with a demonstrated area of specialization in the diagnosis and/or treatment of the disease/disorder diagnosed.  The comprehensive evaluation should include the following.

• Diagnosis (including date of diagnosis).
• Medical or psychological test results used to support the diagnosis and requested housing.
• Summary of treatment (as it relates to the diagnosis and the need for housing).
• Current medications (related to the diagnosis and the need for housing, including dosage and side effects).
• Recommendations for continued treatment.
• Recommendation for an exception to the College's housing policy, including a detailed explanation of the exception's relevance to the disease/disorder that is diagnosed. 
• The time period for which the exception is recommended.

5.  A student may be asked to meet with the Director of Appel Health Services and/or the Clinical Director of Counseling Services to clarify information contained in the above-described evaluation.

6.  An exception to College housing policy is usually granted for one or two semesters.  Renewal of an exception requires a current recommendation from an appropriate health professional and approval from Appel Health Services and/or Counseling Services.

 All reports and/or evaluations should be sent to: 

MLK/CGC

Revised May 19, 2005