11.23 / Animals on Campus

Effective: August 01, 2010

  1. Purpose

    The purpose of this statement is to set forth University policy with regard to animals on campus.

  2. Preamble

    The University has the responsibility to provide a safe and healthy learning environment. The uncontrolled and unsupervised presence of domestic animals on campus compromises that environment. This policy is intended to provide guidance regarding the presence of such animals on the campus of Wichita State University, including the West Campus, South Campus, Old Town and Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

  3. Policy

    1. All domestic animals on University property, including athletic fields, playing fields and intramural areas, must be leashed and under personal control of the owner at all times. Animals are not to be tied to or secured to trees, posts, shrubs and/or left unattended. Each owner is responsible for his/her animal, including clean-up.

    2. To protect public health and safety, animals are not permitted in University buildings, subject to the following exceptions:

      1. Animals qualified as guide dogs, service dogs, assistance dogs or professional therapy dogs pursuant to the requirements of Article 11 of Chapter 39 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated;
      2. Animals used for authorized research projects or experiments;
      3. Animals used as part of an academic program; and/or
      4. Animals kept and maintained by the President in the President's personal residence on campus.

    3. All animals on campus must have current vaccinations evidenced by a tag on the animal or a vaccination certificate in the immediate possession of the owner.

    4. A control agency will be called to remove and impound unattended or at-large animals.

  4. Implementation

    This policy shall be included in the WSU Policies and Procedures Manual and shall be shared with appropriate constituencies of the University.

    The Vice President for Finance and Administration shall have primary responsibility for publication, dissemination and implementation of this University policy.