Frequently Asked Questions - Academic Issues
Will a copy of my son or daughter's grades be mailed to my home?
What is FERPA and how does it affect my student and me?
How does UK handle midterm grades?
Who is the academic ombud and what does he or she do?
Who should my student contact for verification of enrollment or for grade information for the good
student discount our insurance company offers? Where can my student get a transcript?
Where can I access the academic calendar?
What academic resources are available to my student?
Will the University notify my hometown newspaper that my son or daughter made the Dean's List?
What constitutes an excused absence? What should my student do in the event of an emergency that
requires absences from class? Does UK cancel classes in the event of severe winter
weather? What resources are available for my student who is having trouble selecting a major
or a career? Where can my student and I get more information on Commencement?
Who should my student contact to update contact information?
Will a copy of my son or daughter's grades be mailed to my home?
No, the University does not mail paper copies of students' grades to their permanent
addresses. Students can check their final semester grades online via myUK (myuk.uky.edu). Parents do not have access to this information in accordance with
federal law.
What is FERPA and how does it affect my student and me?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (also known as the Buckley Amendment) protects
the privacy of educational records. Once a student turns 18 or attends a postsecondary institution, rights that had been the parents' are transferred to the student. These rights include inspecting
educational records and requesting that inaccurate records be corrected. Generally, the student's written permission must be obtained before any information from his or her educational records can be
released. Directory information (including name, address, etc.) can still be released without the student's permission unless the student has formally requested otherwise. See Part V of UK's Student
Rights and Responsibilities for more information on student records (www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/part5.html). The U.S. Department of
Education website contains more information on FERPA (www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html).
Parents may find that University officials, including the academic ombud, academic advisors, the Dean of Students Office staff, and Registrar's Office staff, are unable to speak with them regarding their students in order to comply with FERPA regulations. In some cases, the student must grant permission for specific University officials to speak with his or her parents. Some offices have a form for students to fill out in those cases.
How does UK handle midterm grades?
Professors are required to give students feedback on their midterm performance
prior to the final deadline to drop a course each semester. This feedback
is not reported to the Registrar's office for many classes; therefore, those
midterm grades cannot be accessed via webUK. Professors can provide oral
or written feedback. If your student does not receive a midterm grade, encourage
him or her to speak with the professor. The academic ombud may be contacted
if the professor refuses to give midterm feedback.
Who is the academic ombud and what does he or she do?
The academic ombud is a tenured faculty member appointed by the president
to serve for a term of one year. The current academic ombud is Dr. Joel Lee. The academic ombud is a neutral party who investigates and mediates
academic-related disputes and grievances. Everything told to the academic
ombud is kept strictly confidential. The Office of the Academic Ombud is
located in 109 Bradley Hall and can be reached by calling (859) 257-3737
or e-mailing ombud@uky.edu. Visit www.uky.edu/Ombud/
for more information.
Who should my student contact for verification of enrollment or for grade information for the good student discount our insurance company offers?
The Registrar's Office handles these requests. Students should stop by the
Funkhouser Building to take care of these needs. In the case that confidential
information (such as grades or Social Security number) will be released,
the student will have to appear in person to make the request (with a photo
ID) or will have to send a written request to the Registrar's Office. See
www.uky.edu/Registrar/various_student_services.htm
for more details.
Where can my student get a transcript?
Unofficial transcripts are available online through myUK (http://myuk.uky.edu/)
only for those who graduated after 1988. Official transcripts are available
through the Registrar's Office: www.uky.edu/Registrar/Transcripts.htm.
Where can I access the academic calendar?
The academic calendar is available online through the Registrar's Office:
www.uky.edu/Registrar/AcademicCalendar.htm.
What academic resources are available to my student?
The Study, 3rd Floor Kirwan-Blanding Complex Commons,
(859) 257-1356, www.uky.edu/ugs/study.
The Study is located on the 3rd floor of the Kirwan-Blanding Complex Commons and is home to Academic Enhancement. The Study provides free academic consultations, peer tutoring, and study strategy seminars all in one central location. The Study promotes effective and efficient learning strategies that result in a more successful academic life. Academic Enhancement is dedicated to improving any students’ overall academic experience at the University of Kentucky. Resources in The Study include:
- The Peer Tutoring Program: A proactive, preventative model tutoring program provided by experienced, trained, supervised undergraduate students who have successfully taken the courses they tutor for in The Study. A regular schedule of free peer tutoring is available for nearly every course students take their first two years at UK.
- Guided Study Program: Guided group project and study group sessions led by peer tutors are available by request. Students are encouraged to bring a group to The Study to make the most efficient and productive use of group study time.
- Master Student Seminars: Four-hour intensive study strategy seminars offered in the evenings teach a range of techniques that address essential topics including Time Management, Memory Enhancement, Exam Preparation Strategies, and Successful Test-Taking.
- Individual consultations: Free consultations available with a learning specialist for more effective study strategies or a writing instructor to improve writing in any class. Students may schedule free, individual consultation appointments with a learning specialist for techniques to improve academic strategies or an expert writing instructor for any type of writing assignment.
Will the University notify my hometown newspaper that my son or daughter made the Dean's List?
Yes, the Registrar's Office compiles the names of
Dean's List students and UK Public Relations sends them to hometown newspapers. Each newspaper then decides whether or not to publish this information. Given the large number of students who attend
UK, it takes some time after the end of the semester for the Dean's List to be made available online. Visit www.uky.edu/PR/News/DeansList/ for
additional information.
What constitutes an excused absence? What should my student do in the event of an emergency that requires absences from class?
In order to have a
class absence excused, some instructors may require students to verify the legitimacy of the absence.
The following are acceptable reasons for class absence:
- Illness of the student or serious illness of a member of the student's immediate family
- Death of a member of the student's immediate family
- Trips for members of student organizations sponsored by an academic unit, trips for University classes, and trips for participation in intercollegiate athletic events
- Major religious holidays (prior notification required)
- Any other circumstance which the instructor finds reasonable cause for nonattendance
In absences related to illness, death or travel, an instructor will require verification such as a written doctor's excuse, a death notice from a newspaper or formal notification from University personnel documenting participation in a trip.
When feasible, students should notify their instructors prior to the occurrence of an absence. If prior notification is impossible, students have one week from the time of the excused absence to notify instructors.
For more specific information on class absences, please see Student Rights and Responsibilities, Part II. Selected Rules of the University Senate Governing Academic Relationships, Section 5.2.4.2.
Does UK cancel classes in the event of severe winter weather?
The University rarely shuts down or even alters its class schedule. In the
event of severe weather, the executive vice president for finance and administration
consults with UK Police and local authorities and considers road conditions
and availability of public transportation before making a decision. Some
University operations can never shut down, including the residence halls,
UK Hospital, UK Police, and physical plant operations. Announcements about
the cancellation of class or delay of classes will normally be made by 6
a.m. Students can call the UK Infoline at (859) 257-5684, check UK local
cable channel 16 and 19, visit www.uky.edu,
listen to WUKY-91.3, or check local radio and television stations to find
out if classes are in session or not.
What resources are available for my student who is having trouble selecting a major or a career?
The Counseling and Testing Center offers
assistance to students who are uncertain what major or career they should pursue. All counseling services are confidential and free to eligible students. Visit
www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Counseling/career.html for more information.
Where can my student and I get
more information on Commencement?
The Registrar's Office webpage offers information on Commencement: www.uky.edu/Commencement.htm.
The UK Alumni Association hosts Senior Salute each spring for graduating
seniors. Visit www.ukalumni.net
for more information.
Who should my student contact to update contact information?
Your student does not need to contact any particular office to update contact
information. Information can easily be updated at any time on myUK (myuk.uky.edu/).