Academic Standards

Excused absences include, but are not limited to:

• Significant physical or mental illness of the student or a member of the student’s immediate family or household
• University- or government-directed quarantine or isolation

Significant illness of the student or serious illness of a member of the student's household (permanent or campus) or immediate family. This includes excusing a student from required interactions if the student has been directed to quarantine by the University, a medical professional, public health professional or government official. The Instructor of Record shall have the right to request appropriate verification.*

• Death of an immediate family or household member

The death of a member of the student's household (permanent or campus) or immediate family. The Instructor of Record shall have the right to request appropriate verification. For the purpose of this rule, immediate family is defined as spouse, child, parent (guardian), sibling (all of the previous include steps, halves and in-laws of the same relationship) and grandchild or grandparent.

• Participation in University-sponsored academic, athletic or co-curricular activities

Trips for members of student organizations sponsored by an educational unit, trips for University classes and trips for participation in intercollegiate athletic events, including club sports registered with the University and varsity sports. When feasible, the student must notify the Instructor of Record prior to the occurrence of such absences, but in no case shall such notification occur more than five (5) business days after the absence. 

• Observance of major religious holidays

Major Religious Holidays. Students are responsible for notifying the Instructor of Record in writing of anticipated absences due to their observance of such holidays. Faculty shall give students the opportunity to make up work (e.g., exams or assignments) when students notify them that religious observances prevent the students from doing their work at its scheduled time. Faculty should indicate in their syllabus how much advance notice they require from a student requesting accommodation. The Office for Student Success and the Academic Ombud are available for consultation.

• Interviews for post-graduation employment or graduate/professional school

Interviews for full-time job opportunities after graduation and interviews for graduate or professional school. The student must notify the Instructor of Record prior to the occurrence of such absences. Instructors of Record have the right to request appropriate verification.

“Appropriate verification” may include evidence that the student had little or no control over the date and time of the interview and that the student is not able to reschedule the interview to a nonconflicting time close to the originally scheduled time.

Programs with learning activities mandated by accreditation or licensure agencies may establish, as a matter of policy, educational consequences for students who have so many excused absences that they cannot complete the mandated learning activities. The published program policies and individual course syllabi must describe these consequences, which may include the student being moved to a different graduation cohort.

• Military obligations
• Any other circumstances in which the Instructor of Record finds reasonable cause for absence.

*Verification standards must be applied consistently for all types of absences. Documentation from University Health Services, the Counseling Center, Triage, Referral, Assistance and Crisis Support (TRACS) or the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Center shall be accepted when verification of a significant illness is required. Falsified attendance verification documents should be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.

Students are responsible for notifying the Instructor of Record in writing of anticipated absences due to their observance of such holidays. Faculty shall give students the opportunity to make up work (e.g., exams or assignments) when students notify them that religious observances prevent the students from doing their work at its scheduled time. Faculty should indicate in their syllabus how much advance notice they require from a student requesting accommodation. The Office for Student Success and the Academic Ombud are available for consultation.

Verification standards must be applied consistently for all types of absences. Documentation from University Health Services, the Counseling Center, Triage, Referral, Assistance and Crisis Support (TRACS) or the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Center shall be accepted when verification of a significant illness is required. Falsified attendance verification documents should be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.

Except where prior notification is required in “Excused Absences,” students missing any graded work due to an excused absence are responsible for notifying the Instructor of Record within five (5) business days following the excused absence and for arranging to complete the missed work. The instructor shall provide accommodations and time frames so the student can make up missed assignments, quizzes and tests in a mutually agreed upon manner, if feasible, during the semester in which the absence occurred.

The instructor shall provide the student with an opportunity to make up the graded work (e.g., quiz, exam, homework, etc.) and may not simply calculate the student's grade based on the other course requirements, unless the student agrees in writing. This includes students who add a class after the first day of classes and miss graded work. 

If a student is required to be absent due to military duties for a period that may affect the student’s ability to complete required course interactions, the following procedure shall apply: 

• Once a student is aware of a call to duty, the student shall provide a copy of the military orders to the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) within the Office for Student Success. The student shall also provide the VRC with a list of their courses and instructors.
• The VRC will verify the orders with the appropriate military authority and, on behalf of the military student, notify each Instructor of Record via department letterhead as to the known extent of the absence.
• The Instructor of Record shall not penalize the student’s absence in any way. The instructor shall provide accommodations and time frames so the student can make up missed assignments, quizzes and tests in a mutually agreed upon manner.

The Instructor of Record shall define any course policy relating to unexcused absences in the course syllabus. If no policy regarding unexcused absences is stated in the course syllabus, or if the stated policy does not permit a penalty, the Instructor of Record shall not penalize the student for the unexcused absence.

*With respect to non-attendance for reason of an employment-related schedule conflict, a student who is a UK employee has the same standing as a student who is working for some other employer.

Prep Days and Reading Days are designed to help students prepare for their final examinations. Certain instructional activities are restricted on Prep Days, and additional restrictions apply to Reading Days. There shall be no required interactions on Reading Days. 

This rule applies to ALL courses taught in both semesters, the Summer Session and the Winter Intersession, regardless of modality. In addition, if a course is taught in a format that has been compressed into less than one (1) semester, intersession or session, and the course overlaps with Prep Days or Reading Days as set in the regular Academic Calendar, then the course must abide by the restrictions on instructional activities that apply to those Prep and Reading Days with which it overlaps. This rule does not apply to courses in professional programs in colleges that have approval to follow a nonstandard calendar. 

For Fall and Spring Semesters: Prep Days are the final three (3) days of instruction (Monday-Wednesday), with classes ending on Wednesday; Reading Days are the two (2) days (Thursday and Friday) immediately preceding the Final Examination period.

For Summer Session and Winter Intersession: Prep Days are the final three (3) days of instruction prior to the scheduled Final Examination; there are no Reading Days.

*Except as noted for oral/listening or lab practical examinations.

Instructors are permitted to grade student participation and require attendance on Prep Days, but not on Reading Days. 

Instructors are permitted to collect regularly assigned homework for a grade on Prep Days, but not on Reading Days, provided the homework was scheduled in the syllabus. However, instructors may collect make-up homework on Reading Days if the affected student agrees to it. 

Instructors are permitted to collect projects, papers and presentations on Prep Days, but not on Reading Days, provided such assignments were scheduled in the syllabus and the course has no Final Examination (or assignment that acts as a Final Examination). 

Instructors are permitted to schedule make-up assignments that replace, substitute for or satisfy earlier required interactions anytime, including, if the affected students agree to it, on Reading Days. 

Instructors are permitted to offer review sessions at any time on Prep Days or Reading Days as long as attendance is not required and the instructor does not discuss or provide new material. 

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. 

In accordance with federal law, if you have a documented disability that requires academic accommodations, please inform your instructor as soon as possible during scheduled office hours. In order to receive accommodations in a course, you must provide your instructor with a Letter of Accommodation from the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC coordinates campus disability services available to students with disabilities. It is located on the corner of Rose Street and Huguelet Drive in the Multidisciplinary Science Building, Suite 407. You can reach them via phone at (859) 257-2754, via email (drc@uky.edu) or visit their website (https://studentsuccess.uky.edu/disability-resource-center/instructor-staff-resources). DRC accommodations are not retroactive and should therefore be established with the DRC as early in the semester as is feasible.

In accordance with federal law, UK is committed to providing a safe learning, living and working environment for all members of the University community. The University maintains a comprehensive program which protects all members from discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct. In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the University prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex in academics, employment and all of its programs and activities. Sexual misconduct is a form of sexual harassment in which one act is severe enough to create a hostile environment based on sex and is prohibited between members of the University community and shall not be tolerated. For complete information about UK’s prohibition on discrimination and harassment on aspects such as race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex and sexual orientation, see Administrative Regulation — Equal Dignity (interim). Complaints regarding violations of University policies on discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct are handled by the Office of Equal Opportunity.   

Faculty members are obligated to forward any report made by a student related to discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct to the Office of Equal Opportunity. Students can confidentially report alleged incidences through the Violence Intervention and Prevention Center(https://www.uky.edu/vipcenter/), Counseling Center (https://www.uky.edu/counselingcenter/) or University Student Health Service(https://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/university-health-service/student-health).

Reports of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct may be made via the Office of Equal Opportunity site by clicking on "Make a Report" on the righthand side of the page.

All courses must satisfy the requirement for regular and substantive interaction, which may be met when course participants meet regularly and the Instructor of Record substantively interacts with students in at least two (2) ways, including direct instruction, assessment of student learning, responding to student questions or facilitating student discussions; Instructors of Record must also complete required RSI training (training required beginning Spring 2027).