On March 3, the University of Maryland Residence Hall Association approved a resolution, introducing a pet policy for the Resident Life staff.
RHA President Sree Sinha has been advocating for RHA to allow pets in the residential spaces of community and resident directors.
The resolution says that the possible policy will be further explored and the Resident Life Advisory Team will further research the issue to determine whether or not it is appropriate for pets to reside in the rooms and apartments of resident life staff.
Currently, pets beyond fish are not allowed in the rooms, but Sinha has high hopes for a change. She believes that given the policies that are already in place for service and assistance animals, allowing professional staff this provision is not a huge leap.
Several peer institutions including Northwestern University, Duke University, and George Mason University allow live in-staff to keep dogs, cats, and other pets. However, a few other Big Ten schools do not, according to a recent survey from Vassar College.
The University of Maryland has completed its first step in moving toward a pet-friendly policy by approving the resolution for further exploration. Sinha explained, “Since the resolution we passed was strictly directing our committees to further explore the policy, it passed fairly easily.”
Now that the Senate has passed the legislation, it is the responsibility of the Residence Life Advisory Team (ReLATe) and the Residential Facilities Advisory Board (ReFAB) to discuss a potential policy change. They will discuss possible consequences, reflect on existing policies regarding animals in residence halls, and submit their recommendations in verbal or written reports by the last RHA Senate meeting of Spring 2015, when a final verdict will be released regarding the policy.
Sinha is a strong advocate that the University of Maryland professional staff should be able to have pets because she believes that a pet presence will promote wellness on campus. “Pets are associated with mental and physical well-being, and healthier and happier employees means healthier and happier communities for our students.”
Sophomore journalism major Rebecca Torchia agreed that letting the live-in staff house pets would be beneficial to the staff and students. “I think letting the Residence Life staff keep pets is a great idea because pet ownership has so many benefits. It’s healthy for the staff members and their families. It gives pets a home, and it could even be beneficial to students because it would mean more pets on campus, which, as shown through events like puppy palooza can be extremely therapeutic.”
Challenges to letting the staff have pets consist of pet dander, noise, and turnover in the apartments as the professional staff come and go. Sinha explained that those challenges have already been addressed through other policies in place at the University that govern animals.
Sinha believes that with the existing protocols governing service and assistance animals in residence halls at the University of Maryland, this resolution and the decision that will be released at the end of the semester could lead RHA to further the presence of pets on campus.