I'm not sure how widespread pets dormitories are, but I know Wells used to have a pet dormitory where students could live with their pets. Now you can only have pets on campus through a lengthy process, which involves detailed letters from doctors and therapists, which seem a bit crazy to me. I think there is more than enough evidence to bring back the pet dorms, both at my college and nationwide! Here are some reasons a pet dorm benefits not only the individual student but the university at large! (Also enjoy the cute animals gifs!)
1. Emotional well-being
It has been proven over and over again that animals help improve mood and help people who suffer from things like depression and anxiety! Even if a student doesn't have a documented mental health issue animals are still helpful to better the student's mood. College is a stressful time for all students so I'm sure we could all use a dog to cuddle during finals!
2. Available campus wide
Pet dorms allow for students who may not be able to bring a pet to still visit these animals, or have the animals visit them! Faculty and staff can also pay a visit, or the therapy animal can attend a class, maybe just to chill, but they also could be used as examples in class.
3. Teach responsibility
This is the first time for many people to live on their own and having an animal to take care of can help teach responsibility. Also, you have a ton of individuals willing to pet sit if you need a night to party.
4. Ease homesickness
Another issue, especially that freshman deal with, is homesickness and having that small part of home with them, their pet, can help a student deal with feelings of homesickness.
5. Less issues
There are a lot of problems with bringing a pet to campus, mainly to do with allergies and waste removal, but by designating a dorm as a "pet dorm," this gets rid of many of the issues. People who are allergic to animals can live in another pet-free dorm, and the dorm can be specially equipped (cheaply) to deal with the care of animals.
6. Create a new environment
A pet dorm would create a new environment on campus and there would most likely be less "wild" college parties and things of that like since that would be adverse to the animals living there.
7. Improved grades
Both the stress relief and the responsibility that come along with pet ownership helps foster both a mood and characteristics that are directly correlated with higher grades, which is both good for the students and make the colleges look better!
8. Money
You know colleges love to charge for odd things, and while I would love to bring my animal to college for free, I know there has to be something in it for them. I would gladly pay a small fee (which I hope could be waived for people without the means) to have my dog with me. (This may be included as a wink to colleges that I know what you care about and I'm willing to exploit that.)
