GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Valley State University has reached a $40,000 settlement with a student who sued to keep a guinea pig in a campus apartment for emotional support.

“The parties’ decision to enter into this agreement represents a compromise of disputed claims and creates the framework for the parties to move forward without the disruption and cost of litigation,” the settlement said.

GVSU denied all allegations that the university or staff “acted wrongly or failed to act in any way with regard to Kendra Velzen.”

The school also said: “Should Kendra Velzen ever reapply for on-campus housing and make an accommodation request to live with a guinea pig or animal of similar size and nature, Grand Valley will grant said request.”

The school will also work with the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan to put in place a support animal accommodation policy related to GVSU’s on-campus housing. They will collaborate to create a university policy that addresses assistance animals.

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Velzen and the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, which supported her efforts, agreed to dismiss the lawsuit against GVSU, its Board of Trustees, and administrators, last month.

Velzen argued that GVSU refused to provide reasonable accommodation for her disabilities. She has chronic depression and uses a pacemaker. Her attorney said the guinea pig “provides her with emotional support and attachment (reducing symptoms of depression), and physiological and psychological benefits.”

She made the request when she showed up at Calder residence in August 2011.

GVSU provided temporary permission, then approved the request, GVSU said.

Velzen claimed as part of that temporary exception, GVSU tried to impose rules that would prohibit her, in part, from taking her guinea pig to common areas of the building, to class or food-service areas. She did not agree to the rules, her attorney said.

Velzen has chronic depression and uses a pacemaker. Her attorney said the guinea pig “provides her with emotional support and attachment (reducing symptoms of depression), and physiological and psychological benefits.”

E-mail John Agar: jagar@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ReporterJAgar