Academic Reminders

As part of the student’s due process rights, the Administrative Regulations require the instructor and the department chair to meet with the student and review the evidence before determining whether an academic offense has occurred.

After the meeting, the chair, or the chair’s designee, contacts the Registrar to determine if the student has a prior offense so that the proper penalty can be imposed.

For SACSCOC compliance, please copy ombud@uky.edu on the invitation to meet with the student and the request to the Registrar for prior offense information. The Administrative Regulations governing the procedures are available on our website, and a checklist is provided.  Please contact Academic Ombud Services with any questions on this process.

Instructors are not permitted to assign homework during Finals Week, nor are they permitted to make any homework assignments due during Finals Week. However, instructors may collect make-up homework after the last day of classes.

The Administrative Regulations indicate that excused absences for in-person participation include quarantine and other recommended/required absences by a medical, public-health, or government officials. 

AR 5.2.5.2 states that a student shall not be penalized for excused absences.

Unexcused absences should be handled by the penalties listed in the course syllabus.  If a penalty is not listed, the student cannot be penalized for unexcused absences.

During unscheduled University closings, non-attendance cannot be penalized.

Instructors must comply with rules regarding syllabi established by the Administrative Regulations and described in AR-ASA 6.2.1

The Disability Resource Center (DRC) seeks to facilitate an environment of inclusion and accessibility. The DRC provides students who have disabilities the resources needed to establish an equal opportunity for academic success. To receive accommodations, students meet with and provide medical documentation to the DRC staff. The DRC determines the accommodations necessary for each student and provides the student with a letter specifying the required accommodations. The student must give the letter to the course instructor to receive the accommodations which must be provided in a way that respects the student’s privacy and confidentiality.

For questions regarding accommodations, please see the DRC website or contact the DRC at 859-257-2754.

The Administrative Regulations define  December 9 - 11 as Prep Days.

Academic Ombud Services receives frequent inquiries regarding Prep Days. These rules apply to all students, professional, graduate, and undergraduate. As a reminder:

• No written or oral/listening exams or quizzes or final examinations may be scheduled during Prep Days
• No projects, papers, or presentations may be held during Prep Days unless they were scheduled in the syllabus AND the course has no final examination (or assignment that acts as a final examination) scheduled during finals week.
• Graded homework that is a routine part of the course and is announced in the course syllabus may be assigned for submission during Prep Days.
• Make-up exams and quizzes are allowed during Prep Days.

The Administrative Regulations define December 12 and 13 as Reading Days. Reading days are not academic holidays. The current Prep Days restrictions apply to Reading Days. Additional restrictions apply to Reading Days, including:

• "No required class meetings" or, more generally, no "required interactions."
• No assignments or presentations can be due.
• Make-up work is allowed if the affected student agrees.
• Review sessions are permitted as long as attendance is not required.