Ferris State University leaders are trying a new tool to help students struggling with anxiety and homesickness: their pets.

Ferris State is piloting Michigan’s first pet-friendly residence hall floor. Students are allowed to bring dogs, cats, and other pets to live with them on the second floor of Cramer Hall starting this week, when they return for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Many colleges let students have aquariums in their dorm rooms and have processes to allow emotional support and service animals. Others partner with local agencies to bring puppies to campus for a few hours to help students relax during stressful times, like final exams.

But Lisa Ortiz, Ferris State’s director of Housing and Residential Life, said her aim is to provide creature comforts all year through an open invitation for dogs, cats, and other furry friends.

“We know many students struggle with depression, anxiety and homesickness when they start college, and sometimes the answer is to bring a little bit of home with them,” she said. “Students may really miss that dog they’ve had since they were a little kid, or that cat they got when they were 12 years old.”

Studies show there are both physical and mental wellness benefits for students living with a pet. Aside from companionship, dogs motivate students to get outside and take walks and interact with their community.

Ortiz said students will pay a $250 fee and must follow rules about keeping the pets under control and cleaning up their messes.

Students also must have had a relationship with the pet for at least six months prior to the start of the semester and must provide veterinary records to show the pets have been spayed or neutered and have the necessary shots.

Ortiz said there has been much interest in the pilot program. The floor is full, and 30 pets are expected to live with student Bulldogs. Cramer Hall rooms are configured in suites where two bedrooms share a bathroom and common room.

Students must follow local laws about leashes and keep their pets under their control when taking them outside the residence hall. An expansion of the program, dog park and other amenities could be added down the line should things go well, Ortiz said.

Residence halls at Ferris State and across the country are adding features like lounges and kitchen areas to make them homier for students living on campus. But studies indicate cuddling puppy can have a big and positive impact on student wellbeing, too.

A 2021 Tarleton State University study published by the Georgia Journal of College Student Affairs indicated pet ownership can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Students who have pets with them during the school year report decreased feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and stress, as well as increased fitness levels.

Ferris State fall semester classes started on Aug. 28. Additional information about campus housing is available here.