Offense Procedures
An instructor who suspects that a student has committed an academic offense in a course taught by that instructor shall consult with the chair as soon as practical after the instructor develops the suspicion. Prior to consultation with the chair, the instructor may take action to prove or detect an academic offense or preserve evidence of same. In taking such action, the instructor should minimize disruption and embarrassment to the student(s).
The instructor and chair shall review the evidence of an academic offense, and the instructor shall decide whether the evidence warrants an allegation of an academic offense.
If so, within 10 days after the evidence is received, the instructor and chair must make a reasonable effort to notify the student, copying Ombud@uky.edu for SACSCOC compliance, of the allegation and to invite the student to meet with the instructor and the chair.
In the notification, the instructor and chair shall set a deadline for the student to respond to the invitation to the meeting, but the deadline shall be no fewer than 7 days after the invitation is issued. The instructor and chair must make a reasonable effort to schedule a meeting with the student as soon as possible after the evidence is received.
After the meeting, the instructor shall consider the evidence and the student's response and shall decide, based on the standard of proof, whether the student committed an academic offense. The student must be notified of the finding within 7 days after the meeting with the student unless the student consents in writing to an extension of this time.
If the student fails to respond to the invitation to meet within the deadline or fails to attend a meeting that was agreed upon by all parties, the instructor may make a finding immediately thereafter.
The student must be notified if they did not commit an offense, if the student’s action warrants a penalty on the assignment, or whether they committed an offense within seven days of the meeting. Please copy Ombud@uky.edu on this notification for SACSCOC compliance.
If the instructor finds the student committed an academic offense, please see Penalties.