Housing Accommodations

Housing Accommodation Guidelines

Luther College is a residential college and the residential experience is understood to be an integral part of the Luther education. Luther College is committed to the support of students with disabilities, as well as the full participation of students with disabilities in all aspects of college life, including residential life.

Please be advised that Residence Life has a limited number of single room housing accommodations available for students with medical conditions. Therefore, single room housing accommodations are reserved for individuals who have documented disabilities and the documentation illustrates clear and substantial needs for whom living with a roommate is not viable, as in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Iowa law. Be further advised that requests for single room housing accommodation based on a student’s preference, rather than disability, will not be approved by Disability Services.

How to Apply for a Housing Accommodation

1. Students must complete the request for accommodations form.Request an Accommodation
2. All disabilities must be documented by a licensed provider with expertise in the area of diagnosis. Additionally, an ongoing relationship with the provider should be demonstrated. When this is not possible, Disability Services will work with the student to discuss potential options for obtaining documentation. Please make sure that your medical/mental health provider completes the Required Documentation for Accommodation Form. Information about the diagnosis and treatment of your condition remains confidential.
   • Release of Information Form
   • Medical Documentation Form
3. Please note that providing the college with medical documentation does not guarantee a single room housing accommodation and that the desire to not have a roommate, or to have a quiet, undisturbed place, is insufficient to warrant a single room housing accommodation.
4. In order to determine eligibility, the student must meet and speak with Disability Services and provide documentation that supports how the disabling condition impacts their ability to live in standard housing with a roommate.
5. Disability Services will review your documentation to determine whether you are eligible to receive a single room housing accommodation.
6. The following documents are not considered acceptable forms of documentation:
   • Documentation from an unlicensed or non-healthcare provider
   • Correspondence from healthcare providers not directly addressed to Luther College’s Disability Services
   • Handwritten patient records or notes from patient charts
   • Diagnosis on prescription pads
   • Self-evaluation found on the internet or in any print publication
   • Research articles

Housing Accommodation Renewal

Single-room housing accommodations are valid for the current academic year and must be renewed each academic year.

Priority Deadline Dates

• November 1 for current students for the upcoming spring semester
• March 1 for current students for the upcoming academic year: Updated documentation and request for the specific housing accommodation must be submitted to Disability Services by March 1
• May 1 for current students requesting an accommodation request for the summer semester
• June 1 for incoming new and first year students for the upcoming academic year: Request for specific housing accommodation and documentation must be submitted to Disability Services by June 1

While applications submitted after these dates will be accepted and considered, we cannot guarantee that Disability Services will be able to meet late applicants’ accommodation needs.

Please note that although Disability Services may support a student’s request for housing accommodation, assignment is dependent upon Residence Life’s room availability. Therefore, students may be placed on a waitlist.

Some housing accommodations requests will require the addition of the dining accommodation interactive process to determine a reasonable accommodation based on the barriers the student is experiencing with their disability.  These housing accommodation requests may take longer than 60 business days to review and fully complete the interactive process as there are additional steps to complete.  See Dining Accommodations.