Personal Care Attendant Policy

Trinity University is committed to ensuring all students, including students with disabilities, have equal access to the residence halls and equal participation in the programs and events held within them.

A student with a disability (hereafter referred to as “student”) who anticipates needing a personal care attendant (hereafter referred to as “PCA”) should contact Trinity’s DSS staff as soon as he/she makes a deposit to reserve a space in the residence halls. The student will be responsible for providing written documentation from a trained, licensed, and qualified medical professional indicating that a PCA is necessary and what level of care is needed (e.g., 24-hour presence, waking hours only, three visits a day). The student will work with DSS and Residential Life staff members to select appropriate facilities and living arrangements.

The student will be responsible for selecting, hiring, and training the PCA. The PCA will sign an agreement describing the rental conditions (if living-in) and specifying that he/she will abide by the rules and regulations of the University while on campus. The student will sign a statement attached to this agreement indicating that he/she is aware that the student is responsible for any policy violations committed by the PCA, just as all resident students are responsible for violations committed by their guests.

The living arrangement will depend on the student’s disability needs. The PCA must be of the same sex as the student unless they are the only occupants of the suite. A non-student PCA who lives in the adjoining suite with the student will not have a roommate.

Non-student PCAs will be required to obtain and carry at all times University identification cards. They may use any campus facility which is open to the public. They may use facilities restricted to students and staff only when accompanying the student. Live-in, non-student PCAs will be required to purchase a meal plan and may purchase the following services: technology services, parking permit, and a campus mail box, if available.

If the student requires the assistance of a relief PCA while their primary PCA is off-duty, the relief PCA will follow the same policies detailed above.