Academic Standards

The following are defined as excused absences: 

1. 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.
   1. The term “significant illness” includes mental as well as physical illness. Instructors must apply the same standard of verification for both types of illness. For example, if a note from University Health Services verifying a "significant" illness is accepted, then a similar note from the UK Counseling Center, TRACS (Triage, Referral, Assistance and Crisis Support) or the VIP Center must also be accepted as valid verification. For example, if a note from University Health Services that the illness of the student is “significant” is acceptable verification, then a note from the UK Counseling Center, TRACS or the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Center that the illness of the student is “significant” shall likewise be considered to be acceptable verification. 
2. 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. 
3. 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 one (1) week after the absence. Instructors of Record may request formal notification from appropriate University personnel to document the student's participation in such trips. 
4. 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 an accommodation. The Office for Student Success and the Academic Ombud are available for consultation. 
5. 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.
   1. “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 reasonably close to the originally scheduled time. 
   2. 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. 
6. Any other circumstances which the Instructor of Record finds reasonable cause for absence.
7. When there is an unscheduled closing, all in-person activities during the closure time are cancelled. Asynchronous activities may be held; asynchronous activities may replace a scheduled synchronous activity if they can be completed in the same amount of time. Synchronous activities may be held only within the scheduled time slot and only if the instructor also provides an asynchronous option that can be completed in the same amount of time. Asynchronous activities may be attended or performed at a time of the student's choosing, subject to reasonable constraints. 

Students anticipating an absence for a major religious holiday are responsible for notifying the instructor in writing of anticipated absences due to their observance of such holidays. Senate Rules requires faculty to include any notification requirements within the syllabus. If no requirement is specified, two weeks prior to the absence is reasonable and should not be given any later. Information regarding major religious holidays may be obtained through the Academic Ombud’s website or calling 859-257-3737.

Students may be asked to verify their absences in order for them to be considered excused. Administrative Regulation — Academic and Student Affairs states that faculty have the right to request appropriate verification when students claim an excused absence due to: significant illness; death in the household, trips for classes, trips sponsored by an educational unit and trips for participation related to intercollegiate athletic events; and interviews for full-time job opportunities after graduation and interviews for graduate and professional school. (Appropriate notification of absences due to university-related trips is required prior to the absence when feasible and in no case more than one week after the absence.)

Except where prior notification is required in “Acceptable excuses”, students missing any graded work due to an excused absence bear the responsibility of informing the Instructor of Record about their excused absence within one (1) week following the period of the excused absence, and of making up the missed work. The Instructor of Record shall give the student an opportunity to make up the work and/or the exams missed due to an excused absence, and shall do so, 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. 

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

If a student is required to be absent due to military duties for one-fifth or less of the required course interactions (e.g., class meetings), the following procedure shall apply: 

1. 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. 
2. 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. 
3. 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 a policy is not stated in the course syllabus or the policy does not allow for a penalty to the student, the Instructor of Record shall not penalize the student for any unexcused absences.

• With respect to nonattendance 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 Semester and Spring Semester, Prep Days are the last three (3) days of instruction (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) and before the start of the Final Examination Period. The third Prep Day (Wednesday) is when classes end. 

For Summer Session and Winter Intersession, Prep Days are the last three (3) days of instruction before the Final Examination day as established in the Academic Calendar and posted by the Office of the University Registrar. 

For Fall Semester and Spring Semester, Reading Days are the two days (Thursday and Friday) after the Prep Days before the start of the Final Examination Period. 

There are no Reading Days during Summer Session or Winter Intersession. 

Instructors must not schedule examinations or quizzes, including Final Examinations, on Prep Days or Reading Days, with the following exceptions: 

1. Instructors are permitted to schedule oral/listening examinations and lab practical exams on Prep Days during a semester, provided such examinations are scheduled in the syllabus and the course has no final examination (or assignment that acts as a Final Examination). 
2. Instructors are permitted to schedule make-up examinations or make-up quizzes anytime, including, if the affected students agree to it, on Reading Days. Instructors may distribute take-home examinations, but students shall not be required to return the completed examination before the regularly scheduled examination period for that course. 

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). 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. 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 6:1 (“Policy on Discrimination and Harassment”) (https://regs.uky.edu/administrative-regulation/ar-61). 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 more details, see Administrative Regulations 6:2 (“Policy and Procedures for Addressing and Resolving Allegations of Sexual Harassment Under Title IX and Other Forms of Sexual Misconduct”) (https://regs.uky.edu/administrative-regulation/ar-62). Complaints regarding violations of University policies on discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct are handled by the Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity (Institutional Equity), which is located in 13 Main Building and can be reached by phone at (859) 257-8927. You can also visit Institutional Equity’s website (https://ieeo.uky.edu/).   

Faculty members are obligated to forward any report made by a student related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct to the Office of Institutional Equity. 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 Institutional Equity’s website (https://ieeo.uky.edu/contact-us); at that site, click on "Make a Report" on the left-hand side of the page.

Courses satisfy the requirement for regular and substantive interaction when course participants meet regularly, as prescribed in the Appendices, and the Instructor of Record substantively interacts with students in at least two (2) of the following ways: provides direct instruction, assesses students’ learning, provides information or responds to students’ questions and facilitates student discussions. Some exceptions are allowed as per SACSCOC.