NMSU acknowledges that some students may require a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) while in the learning/living environment.  A Personal Care Attendant (PCA) is defined as an individual hired to provide ongoing or temporary personal care services or other health related tasks to a student with a qualifying disability that supports activities of daily living (ADL) and permits them to live an independent life.

To bring a PCA to NMSU, a student must register with Disability Access Services (DAS) for the accommodation approval. If a PCA is required while living in the residence halls, the student must register with DAS and request housing accommodations. DAS must also assess and approve the PCA to ensure they abide by NM certification requirements.

Please be aware:  

• NMSU does not provide PCA services. 
• PCAs are hired, paid and employed by the student they are assisting. The student is responsible for all associated costs of having a PCA on campus including, but not necessarily limited to, housing the PCA, providing meals for the PCA, and purchasing a parking pass for the PCA. The University is in no way responsible for the actions of a PCA and will have no liability for those actions or for the level of care, or lack of care, provided by any PCA.
• PCAs are not course or lab assistants. 
• PCAs are required to abide by all NMSU policies, including but not limited to the Student Code of Conduct and Housing and Residential Life policies and procedures. 
• PCA’s must abide by any university criteria for safety or health related requirements, such as a background check, vaccination requirements, personal protective equipment, etc.
• PCAs are only permitted in the living environment based on the needs of the student and when within Housing and Residential Life policies and procedures. 
• Accommodations will be assessed for attached PCA rooms are provided when a PCA is needed for 30 hours or more per week of work. 
• PCAs are non-active participants in the academic, learning, and living environments.  Generally, PCAs are not expected to attend classes/labs as DAS will work with the student to provide a classroom assistant for academic access. 
• Non-active participant means that if a PCA is needed, then the PCA should not be auditing or taking the course, asking questions, making comments, or taking an active role in the course, classroom, or in meetings.  
• Academic/learning environments include, but are not limited to, classrooms, labs, research testing areas, group meetings, faculty/student meetings, advisor meetings, or other academic events. In addition, PCAs may need to accompany the student on a field trip or internship if personal care is required. 
• Living environments include club participation, residential areas, dining halls, NMSU non-academic resources departments/areas, and other social events.