For students at Eckerd College, a liberal arts institution in Florida, the presence of dogs, cats, and other animals is an integral part of campus life, as the school permits pets to reside in dormitories. Sophie Nocera, a senior at Eckerd, candidly admits she often knows the names of her peers’ pets better than their owners.
“That’s the case for a lot of the students,” said Nocera, who shares her St. Petersburg campus accommodation with her Border collie, Zuko. She added: “When I’m walking my dog, I often hear, ‘Oh my god, hi, Zuko!’ It’s like I’m not even there.”
This pet-friendly approach is not exclusive to Eckerd, with a growing number of colleges and universities across the US, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stephens College in Missouri, now welcoming animals in campus residences. For students, this companionship offers significant benefits, helping to alleviate stress, anxiety, and homesickness. Institutions, in turn, report enhanced student engagement and improved social connections among their student body…