The Academic Ombud is a confidential, impartial, and independent resource that assists students and instructors with their academic questions and issues. This reminder contains information that may be useful to instructors. Please contact the Academic Ombud at ombud@uky.edu or 859-257-3737 for questions or concerns regarding academic policies.
Course syllabi should include detailed information about the course and University regulations on academic policies and academic offenses. All requirements for course syllabi may be viewed here:
Instructors must comply with rules regarding syllabi established by the Administrative Regulations and described in AR-ASA 6.2.1.
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, if it has been determined an academic offense occurred, 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.
Administrative Regulation AR-ASA 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.
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 with a letter specifying the required accommodations through the AIM portal. Faculty must read and acknowledge each letter of accommodation for each student. If a Flexibility with Attendance or Flexibility with Deadlines form is attached, faculty should meet with the student to decide on the agreement to be signed.
For questions regarding accommodations, please see the DRC website or contact the DRC at 859-257-2754.
The Administrative Regulations define April 28-30 as Prep Days.
The rules regarding Prep Days apply to all students, professional, graduate, and undergraduate. As a reminder:
The Administrative Regulations define May 1 and 2 as Reading Days. Reading days are not academic holidays. The Prep Days restrictions apply to Reading Days with additional restrictions, including:
