»Housing Accessibility

• Accommodation requests for those with documented disabilities (e.g. physical, medical, mental, psychiatric, sensory, etc.).
• Gender-diverse housing, which can be requested in the housing application.
• Dining options that include vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, as well as accommodations for those with food allergies.
• An on-campus food pantry for those who are food insecure.

Housing Accommodations

Housing Accommodations for students with disabilities

Chapman University is dedicated to providing reasonable housing accommodations in compliance with federal guidelines to support students with disabilities.

Disability Accommodation Requests
Students who need housing accommodations due to a disability can submit a request for review. Requests are carefully evaluated by the Assistant Director for Specialized Services, in collaboration with Disability Services, Student Psychological Counseling Services, and Student Health Services. This process follows the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

How to Request an Accommodation
To request a housing accommodation, students must complete the Housing Accommodation Request Form and submit documentation from a licensed healthcare provider supporting the need for accommodation.

Documentation Requirements
To fully evaluate your request, the University requires a letter from your current licensed healthcare provider*, in PDF format, that includes:

1. A detailed description of your current functional limitations related to your disability (a diagnosis alone is not sufficient).
2. Whether these limitations are permanent or temporary, and if temporary, the expected duration.
3. An explanation of how these limitations justify the need for housing accommodation.
4. Specific recommended housing accommodations or alternatives.
5. The credentials, contact information, and license number of the healthcare provider. If the letter is written by an unlicensed professional, it must be co-signed by a licensed supervisor.
6. A statement confirming the provider is not a family member or personal friend.

*All documentation submitted must be provided by a licensed professional who is not related to the student. This ensures the integrity and impartiality of the information received.

To simplify the process, these forms can be sent directly to your healthcare provider and returned to Disability Services:

• Certification of ADHD Disorders
• Certification of Chronic Physical Disability
• Certification of Temporary Disability
• Certification of Neurological Disorders
• Certification of Phychological Disability

For questions about the process, please email Assistant Director of Specialized Support, Sean Cutting, at scutting@chapman.edu

Confidentiality: All information provided, including healthcare documentation, is kept strictly confidential and used only to process your accommodation request.

Gender Diverse Housing

One of the ways we support students who identify as transgender, genderqueer, gender questioning, or otherwise outside the gender binary is through gender diverse housing. You can learn more on our Gender Diverse Housing page.

Emotional Support Animal Requests

Chapman maintains a “no pets” policy in the residence halls and apartment communities. However, in accordance with applicable law, we will consider requests for accommodations to housing policy to allow students equal access and use of Chapman housing.

Read the Full ESA Policy

Service Animals

Per the law, service animals are permitted in our residence halls and apartments. Service animals do not need to be pre-approved by our office of Disability Services as a reasonable accommodation. However, we very much encourage students to voluntarily register their service animal with our office. If you have questions, or want to discuss any other specifics regarding your service animal, contact Disability Services at ds@chapman.edu or (714) 516-4520.

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Dining Accommodations

In addition to providing fresh, healthy and nutritious food, our dining establishments provide vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. 

For those with food allergies and/or specific dietary accommodations, we offer:

• Simple Servings: A resident dining option that provides safe and appetizing food choices "ready to go" for students with food allergies, gluten intolerance, or who prefer plain and simple foods.
• My Zone: Our campus "pantry" located at Randall Dining Hall, where food items needed by students with celiac disease or food allergies are stored and prepared with precautions against cross-contact.

In addition, students are invited to meet one-on-one with a dining staff member to ensure their experience is safe, delicious and social. Those with a food allergy/special diet concern can call (714) 997-6886 or send a note using the feedback form.

You can learn more about nutrition and accommodations on our Dining website.

Food Pantries

Chapman University has two food pantries (one on the Orange Campus, one on the Rinker Campus) to support students experiencing food insecurity.

Chapman Food Pantries provide an assortment of healthy meal options to facilitate student success at Chapman.

You can learn more about the food pantries, and request access, on our Chapman Food Pantries page.