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Housing Accommodations

Bethune Cookman University (B-CU) provides housing accommodations for students with documented medical, physical, or psychological disabilities on a case-by-case basis. To qualify, students must register with the Office of Student Resource Services. Requests for specific housing assignments or roommate changes based on personal preference should go to the Office of Residence Life Housing.

Housing accommodations are valid for one academic year (August-May), and students must reapply each year, possibly providing updated documentation.

Important Dates

Here are the key dates for requesting housing accommodations:

  • Incoming first-year B-CU students: May 1 for the Fall semester and November 1 for the Spring semester.
  • New and transfer students: June 30 for the Fall semester and November 1 for the Spring semester.
  • All other students: February 1 for the following Fall semester and November 1 for the Spring semester.

After these deadlines, applications will be accepted, but B-CU cannot guarantee that accommodation requests can be fulfilled, even with proper documentation. All requests are also subject to room availability. If a request cannot be accommodated due to this limitation, B-CU will make a good faith effort to discuss alternative arrangements.

Registering with the Office of Student Resource Services

The following steps are required when registering with the Office of Student Resource Services (SRS):

  1. Complete the Reasonable Housing Application. Only one application is required even when applying for multiple accommodations.
  2. Students may email documentation directly to resourceservices@cookman.edu, Odessa Chambliss Center (Nursing Building), Room 144 or fax to 386-481-2987.
  3. Your application for Reasonable Housing Accommodations, along with supporting documentation from your healthcare provider will be reviewed by a committee consisting of representatives from the Student Resource Services, Housing & Residence Life Residence Life, Counseling Service and Health Services. You will be notified of the Committee’s decision via e-mail from The Office of Student Resource Services. The correspondence will include a decision regarding your eligibility for each housing accommodation requested and your assigned housing assignment.

Documentation Requirements

The University requires documentation from a licensed healthcare provider that describes the student’s disability and supports the request for reasonable housing accommodation. The licensed healthcare provider must complete Part IV of the Request for Reasonable Housing Accommodations Application. The healthcare provider may also include a letter of additional support if they choose.

Documentation must be:

  1. Recent (within the last year of applying for housing); and
  2. Sufficient to establish a direct link between the underlying impairment and the requested housing accommodation.

The following documents are NOT considered acceptable forms of documentation if submitted alone:

  1. Handwritten patient records or notes from patient charts
  2. Diagnosis on prescription pads
  3. Self-evaluation found on the internet or in any print publication
  4. Research articles
  5. Correspondence from healthcare providers not directly addressed to Student Resource Services

Below are some examples of disabilities that could qualify for a housing accommodation:

  • Physical disabilities necessitating the use of a wheelchair and/or specialized equipment
  • Health conditions that demand significant medical equipment and supplies
  • Visual impairments
  • Severe medical or psychological conditions

Please be aware that providing supporting information does not guarantee housing accommodation. For instance, a request for a single room for quiet study may not qualify under disability criteria. Students needing a quiet environment can utilize campus libraries, study lounges, and other designated quiet areas.

Here are examples of conditions that typically do not justify a medical single room:

  • Asthma
  • Allergies
  • Learning disorders/ADHD
  • Insomnia and sleep issues
  • Orthopedic problems
  • Depression
  • Anxiety

The University has established the following procedures to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to campus housing.

A disability is defined under the ADA AA as any mental or physical impairment that substantially limits the individual in a major life activity compared to the average person.