In general, Brevard College housing facilities consist primarily of double rooms that two roommates share with a suite-style restroom that allows for private single use. All residence halls have central AC except for Green Hall.  Some residences require using stairs while others have an elevator or ground-level entry.  Students have access to a community kitchen. Room and board fees include a 14-meal-per-week meal plan. 

When a student has a medical or psychological condition that creates a need to be assigned a particular type of residence or amenity, the student should submit a housing accommodation request to the Director of Student Accessibility and Disability Services. Students requesting housing accommodations must follow the procedure outlined below and provide sufficient professional documentation to verify the need for the requested accommodation.

Please note that the diagnosis of a medical/psychological condition and a physician's or therapist's recommendation do not automatically qualify a student for disability-related housing accommodations.  Healthcare providers' recommendations are considered; however, Brevard College must evaluate housing accommodations through the lens of what is necessary for the student to access and live in college housing. Not all medical conditions rise to the level of being a disability that requires accommodation for the student to access the housing program.

(Note to incoming or prospective students-students requesting housing accommodations need to complete the necessary registration and deposit procedures through Admissions and Campus Life before being eligible to request and be evaluated for a disability-related housing accommodation).

Single Rooms for Disability Access vs Single Rooms as a Preference 

The college has a limited number of single rooms available.  Any student may request a single room as a preference during the scheduled housing selection process that occurs before the fall and spring semesters. Single-room assignments are made depending on seniority and availability. When not assigned as a disability accommodation, single rooms are charged an additional rate except for rooms in Green Hall which are billed at a standard double room rate. 

One of the most requested accommodations is a single room.  A single room is a disability accommodation only when clinical history and professional documentation clearly demonstrate a history of substantial limitations and provide a rationale that supports the student's need for a separate living/sleeping space to be able to access and utilize housing. For example, a student who needs extra space to utilize specialized medical equipment may need extra space or a certain size bathroom that is only available in a single room.  This is an access need because, without extra space to utilize medical equipment, the student would not be able to participate equitably in the housing program.  Legal precedence shows when a single room is assigned as a disability accommodation to create access, colleges should bill the student at the standard room double rate and not at the private rate. 

ADD, Generalized Anxiety, and Depression are diagnoses commonly presented as reasons a student believes they need a single room.  However, these diagnoses rarely present as true barriers to access. Here is some of the reasoning for when a single room may not be determined to be a necessary and reasonable disability accommodation required for access. 

What if my diagnosis means I need a quiet space to study? 

Residence halls and student housing are designed as living areas. Thus, they do not fall into the category of needing to be quiet study spaces for disabilities that affect focus, concentration, or distractibility.  Because of the number of people who live in close proximity, it is not logical to assume that having a private room would provide a quiet, distraction-free space to any appreciable degree beyond living in a standard double room. The campus residential experience extends beyond the sleeping space so there are multiple settings on campus (study rooms in residence halls, art and music studios, computer labs, private library study rooms, outdoor hammock spots, etc.) that provide quiet and private places where students can study, relax, or be alone. Tools like noise-canceling headphones, white noise devices, or phone apps also can help block distracting sounds.

What if I need to be alone or have a single room to decompress?

Having a diagnosis of anxiety or depression and wanting a private space to be alone or to decompress generally does not rise to the level of being a disability that requires a single room to remove barriers related to access.  Students have access to many places on campus and in the community to decompress, unwind, or process their emotions other than the room where they sleep. Here are several ideas:

• Enjoy solitary walks on campus grounds or along the Brevard Greenway located near campus and ends beside Davidson River

• Find a private nook in the library or other academic buildings to nestle in and read or think

• Check out a hammock from Jones Library and relax in one of the hammock stands around campus

• Sit beside and listen to the peaceful sounds of Kings Creek that runs through campus.

• Discover the many nooks in academic buildings or the Residence Hall study rooms.

• Work with Residence Life staff to set up and host a Roommate Agreement meeting. They are skilled at working with roommates neutrally to help with boundary setting and expectation management to create a healthy living environment for each roommate.

• Use a white noise machine/phone app or earplugs/earphones to help block out extraneous sounds.

• Work with Residence Life live-in staff for guidance on conversation starters and boundary setting.

What if I need to have control over my space?

On a college campus, students share spaces with peers in multiple settings including classrooms, campus dining, athletic and performance facilities, etc. Rarely does a student's disability rise to the level of being unable to do so in a shared living space. In the standard shared residence, students are assigned their own bed, dresser, closet, and study space.  When it comes to issues like quiet hours, noise levels, visitors, cleaning responsibilities, etc., living with a roommate can help students learn essential skills like communication, compromise, and respect for others' boundaries. However, these may be new skills for many students who have never had to share a room with another family member.  Community standards for behavior are listed in the current Student Handbook and housing staff (RAs and Area Coordinators) are available to assist students who need assistance with negotiating concerns.

What if I don't want to deal with a bad roommate?

Although many college alumni remain lifelong friends with former roommates, most who have attended college can recall a less-than-perfect roommate situation.  However, Campus Life and the Student Handbook have tools and procedures for dealing with roommate concerns. 

• Work with the Counseling Center to talk through your past experiences, work through current concerns, determine possible strategies, and receive support.
• Make an appointment with Residence Life staff to discuss how to resolve current roommate concerns. 

What if I have medications I fear might be stolen

All students should consider locking valuables, including medications.

• Buy a lockbox or small safe to keep tucked away and out of sight.
• Lock your dorm room door when you leave.

What can I do if my request for a single room as a disability accommodation is denied but I still want a single room and none are available?

Students may request to be placed on a waiting list for a single room if private spaces are filled at the time of the request.  Often, single rooms become available after the start of the semester.  Again, an extra fee applies to private rooms in residence halls other than Green Hall.

1. First, the student should review and complete the Guidelines & Request for Accessible Student Housing Form.
2. To best evaluate the severity of a condition and its impact, students should ask their healthcare provider with knowledge of their medical history and expertise in treating the type of disability as indicated below to complete the Housing Accommodation Request Professional Documentation Form.  The diagnostician must be an impartial evaluator who is not a family member nor in a dual relationship with the student.
3. For treating and documenting a medical condition: physicians, physician assistants, or advanced practice nurse practitioners.  For treating and documenting a psychological or mental health condition:  licensed clinical social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, or advanced practice psychiatric nurse practitioners.
4. Please note that a medical diagnosis alone and a recommendation for a particular accommodation do not establish a disability-related need for accommodations. A student's professional healthcare provider documentation must establish the following for a condition to be considered a disability:  (A) Compelling evidence, including treatment history, to indicate the impact, of a physical or mental health impairment that limits the student's participation in a major life activity; (B) A substantial degree of functional impairment;  (C) Sufficient explanation of how the requested housing assignment relates to the current impact of the condition. 

Both forms must be submitted (scanned or faxed) to Student Accessibility & Disability Services. Contact information is on the form.

Students who experience injuries, surgeries, extended illness, or any other sudden medical condition may need temporary academic, housing, or facility-related accommodations.  Whenever possible, the Office of Student Accessibility and the Office of Campus Life will achieve to arrange for any necessary changes to student housing in order to accommodate unexpected accessibility needs.  

Student Accessibility and Disability Services works with students who need temporary accommodations. For assistance, students should contact the Director of Student Accessibility at 828-641-0653 or email disabilityservices@brevard.edu.  Students seeking assistance should call to discuss their needs or may complete and submit the Temporary Impairment Accommodations Request Form.

Please refer to Guidelines for Assisting Students with Temporary Impairments for additional information about procedures and documentation requirements.