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Housing and Meal Accommodations

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Scripps College is committed to the full participation of students with disabilities in all aspects of college life, including residential life. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the American with Disabilities Act, Scripps College has established procedures to ensure that students with documented disabilities have equal access to housing resources and receive housing assignments that reasonably meet their needs as required by law. According to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), a disability is defined as any mental or physical impairment that substantially limits the individual in a major life activity. 

Each year, returning students and incoming freshmen will get the opportunity to apply for the housing accommodation process through AARS. (It is important for students to know that these are based on documented need. Students that wish for specific housing assignments outside of a documented medical need should communicate with the Office of Residential Life. [email protected]) 

The deadline for returning students to submit housing accommodation applications for the 2026–2027 school year is March 13th 2026. 

If a student is denied housing accommodation, they may appeal. Please click [here] for information on our appeal process. 

All housing appeals must be submitted by April 3rd 2026. 

Any housing application appeals submitted after this date will not be considered, aside from quarterly external circumstances. 

Note: Returning students with existing housing accommodations will complete a separate process to renew their housing accommodation each year. That process is sent through email. 

The deadline for incoming freshmen to submit housing accommodation applications for the 2026–2027 school year is June 19th 2026. 

If a student is denied a housing accommodation, they may appeal. Please click [here] for information on our appeal process. 

All housing appeals must be submitted by July 10th 2026. 

Any housing application appeals submitted after this date will not be considered, aside from quarterly external circumstances. 

Note: AARS will begin to review incoming freshmen applications for housing starting Mid May. 

Requesting Housing Accommodations

Step 1: Fill Out Housing Form

Submit a Housing Accommodation Request Housing Accommodations Request. You must use your Scripps email. 

Step 2: Upload Supporting Documentation

Upon submitting the form, the link will direct you to the next page where you can upload supporting documentation. Please refer to the following guidelines for your housing documentation: 

All documentation must be submitted on letterhead and include a signature dated within the last year from the treating professional health care provider. Students are encouraged to share the documentation guidelines with their treating health care professional. Documentation must address the following: 

  • Licensure and experience of health care professional 
  • Identification of diagnosis/condition 
  • Description of the functional limitation(s) as a result of the condition 
  • Discussion of the major life activities impaired by the condition 
  • How the condition/limitations impact full participation and/or accessibility of any aspect of the college experience, specifically residential and/or academic environment 
  • List of all recommended accommodations that will ameliorate the experience of the limitation(s) such that the student will be able to fully access and/or participate in all aspects of the academic or residential life programs 

The AARS Housing Committee meets at a designated time before the start of each school year for preplacement. Students who have requested a housing accommodation will be informed via an email from [email protected]. If approved, the email will have instructions on how to go into the students given AIM account to view the student’s approved accommodations. 

*Please note that housing is limited and all requests are subject to availability. The AARS housing committee will approve or deny requests based on documentation, however applicants may be placed on a waiting list. AARS will prioritize waiting list candidates based on severity as determined by the AARS Housing Committee.

Step 3. AARS will contact you with a decision by email.

For 2026-2027 applications from returning students, the AARS Housing Committee will send out communication on approvals and denials no later than March 27th 2026. For 2026-2027 applications from incoming freshmen, AARS Housing Committee will send out communication on approvals and denials no later than July 3rd 2026. Students will be informed via email from [email protected]. 

If approved, the email will have instructions on how to go into the students given AIM account to view the student’s approved accommodations. 

If denied, students have the option to appeal the decision. Click [here] for the Accommodation Appeal process. 

 

Important Note: Housing is limited and all requests are subject to availability. The AARS housing committee will approve or deny requests based on documentation, however once approved, the office for residential life will need to place students based on space. If a student is deemed eligible for a housing accommodation through AARS but is not able to be placed due to spacing, they will be placed on a waiting list. AARS will prioritize waiting list candidates based on severity as determined by the AARS Housing Committee. 

Other Circumstances

Temporary Housing Accommodations

Please contact [email protected] for information on temporary housing accommodations.

Meal Accommodations

All Scripps students are required to have a full meal plan while living on campus. If a student would like to request a reduced meal plan or to be exempt from the meal plan due to medical reasons, they can request an accommodation through the AARS office. The process is the same as for housing accommodation requests. The student must complete the Housing Accommodation Form and upload all required supporting documentation. Within the form, there is a section where the student can provide detailed information about their specific needs related to meal plan accommodations. After this is submitted, the student will need to complete an intake meeting with an AARS team member. During this meeting, next steps will be decided. 

Emotional Support Animals

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are considered housing accommodations since they affect the residential life of the student and are not considered service animals. For this reason, students that request an ESA must apply following the same steps listed above for housing accommodations. For more information on ESAs, click [here].