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University Resources

Academic Ombud

The Academic Ombud is an independent and confidential source of information and guidance for any academic situation or issue. Their services are open to all members of the UK academic community.

Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching

The Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching works with instructors to create engaging and and effective learning environments through consultations, workshops and more.

Office for Faculty Advancement

The Office for Faculty Advancement provides crucial support and resources for the development of faculty at the university. They help guide faculty through promotion and tenure processes, garner recognition for faculty achievements and help faculty develop leadership skills.

UK Online

UK Online helps support students and instructors in the delivery of online courses. They provide resources to instructors and faculty to guide in both the development and teaching of online courses, including guidance on use of media and technology as well as Canvas and other tools.

Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness

The Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness (OSPIE) fosters a culture of continuous and evidence-based improvement. They help instructors develop and assess student learning outcomes and provide data to support academic program planning.

Syllabus Guidance

A syllabus is an important communication document between instructors and students. It provides students with both course-level and university-level information to help them succeed in the course and at UK. The required syllabi components and recommendations are in the Administrative Regulations — Academic and Student Affairs, 6.1.2.  

Syllabi must be made available to students by the third day of class in fall and spring, or the first day of class in compressed terms. Students have the right to receive the syllabus in writing. Electronically posted syllabi must remain posted for the entire term.

Below are the minimal requirements from the University. Instructors may choose to include additional information, sequence the requirements differently and tailor the content to their teaching style and disciplinary norms.

NOTE: Programs and colleges should include information in syllabi as required by their respective accrediting agencies.

Required Components

Those requirements denoted with an asterisk (*) may not apply to asynchronous online courses.

Course Information

  • Title
  • Prefix, course and section number (e.g., ISC 341-001)
  • Description
  • Student learning outcomes
  • Required materials (e.g., books, films)
  • Other expenses (e.g., proctoring fees) 
  • Course activities outside of regularly scheduled course days/times, out of class interactions (e.g., field trip)

Instructor Information

  • Name
  • Office location
  • UKY email address
  • Office hours (in-person and/or virtual)
  • How to set appointments
  • Preferred communication method
  • Timeframe for responses

Academic Requirements and Instructor Expectations

  • Skill and technology requirements
  • Attendance policy*
  • Policy for absences due to major religious holidays*
  • List of activities, assignments and exams with descriptions, deadlines and grading schemes
  • Mechanics of submissions 
  • Policy on grade return 
  • Grading scale
  • Midterm grades
  • Submission of late assignments and polices on late assignments
  • Prep week and permissible assignments
  • Acceptable documentation for excused absences
  • URL/link or copy and paste of academic offenses

Tentative Schedule

  • Must include major due dates
  • Must include a link to the appropriate Academic Calendar

University Policies and Student Support

NOTE: Instructors are required to include links in syllabi. This information will also be available in the “Student Policies and Academic Support” Canvas Tab.

Classroom Emergency Preparedness and Response Information

Your safety is our top priority. The UK Police Department works to enhance campus security, but we all share responsibility for keeping our community safe. In an emergency during class, follow your instructor’s directions based on university, building and department plans. 

If there is an emergency, DIAL 911. To report suspicious activity or non-emergency situations, call the UK Police Department at 859-257-8573 or #UKPD from any mobile phone.

UK Alert

The university provides emergency notifications through UK Alert, which sends messages via email, text message, phone calls, building alarm systems, digital signage, social media, outdoor sirens and via push notifications through the SafeZone App. If you receive a UK Alert message during class, notify your instructor and classmates immediately. For more information, visit https://police.uky.edu/get-notified/uk-alert.

Emergency Actions:

Evacuation 

Leave the building immediately using the nearest safe exit. Do not use elevators. Follow posted evacuation routes and go to the designated assembly area if available. Stay clear of the building and wait for further instructions from emergency personnel.

Severe Weather Sheltering 

Report to the nearest marked shelter location. If a marked shelter location is unavailable, move to an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor. Avoid doors and windows. Take cover under a sturdy table and protect your head and neck.

Shelter-in-Place 

Stay where you are unless your building is affected. If it is, evacuate only if the fire alarm sounds or law enforcement instructs you. Choose an interior room with few or no windows and no exterior doors if possible. Close all windows and doors.

Active Aggressor

  • Run – Escape if you can.
  • Hide – If escape isn’t possible, hide in a secure place. Silence your phone and dim the screen.
  • Fight – As a last resort, defend yourself by any means necessary.

Special Course Requirements

UK Core Courses

  • A statement that the course satisfies a UK Core area and list which area
  • The Student Learning Outcomes of the course that align with the UK Core area’s Student Learning Outcomes
  • Course assignment map that demonstrates how UK Core Student Learning Outcomes will be met through the course  

Distance Learning Courses

Graduate-level or 400G- and 500-level Courses

  • Graduate-level courses may include Professional Enhancement Resources.
  • If 400G- or 500-level, differentiate between undergraduate and graduate expectations for 400G and 500 level courses.

Optional Components

Classroom Recording and Course Copyright

Below is sample language for items that instructors often think are helpful to have in a syllabus, although they are not required. 

Classroom Recordings

The University of Kentucky Code of Student Conduct defines Invasion of Privacy as using electronic or other devices to make a photographic, audio or video record of any person without their prior knowledge or consent when such a recording is likely to cause injury or distress.

Meetings of this course may be recorded. All video and audio recordings of lecturers and class meetings, provided by the instructors, are for educational use by students in this class only. They are available only through the Canvas shell for this course and are not to be copied, shared or redistributed.

As addressed in the Code of Student Conduct, students are expected to follow appropriate university policies and maintain the security of linkblue accounts used to access recorded class materials. Recordings may not be reproduced, shared with those not enrolled in the class or uploaded to other online environments.

If the instructor or a UK office plans any other uses for the recordings, beyond this class, students identifiable in the recordings will be notified to request consent prior to such use. In anticipation of such cases, students may be asked to complete an “authorization of use” form by a faculty member.

Video and audio recordings by students are not permitted during the class unless the student has received prior permission from the instructor. Any sharing, distribution and or uploading of these recordings outside of the parameters of the class is prohibited. Students with specific recording accommodations approved by the Disability Resource Center should present their official documentation to the instructor.

All original instructor-provided content for this course, which may include handouts, assignments and lectures, is the intellectual property of the instructor(s). Students enrolled in the course this academic term may use the original instructor-provided content for their learning and completion of course requirements this term, but such content must not be reproduced or sold. Students enrolled in the course this academic term are hereby granted permission to use original instructor-provided content for reasonable educational and professional purposes extending beyond this course and term, such as studying for a comprehensive or qualifying examination in a degree program, preparing for a professional or certification examination or to assist in fulfilling responsibilities at a job or internship; other uses of original instructor-provided content require written permission from the instructor(s) in advance.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policies

Refer to the AI policies provided by CELT for guidance.

Other Optional Components

If required by an accrediting agency, course goals or objectives (in addition to student learning outcomes), classroom behavior policies or inclement weather policies.

Click here to download a PDF of the syllabus guidance and checklist.