The Academic Policies and Student Records page outlines key academic standing policies and appeal processes. It includes information on probation, suspension, reinstatement, withdrawals, and the Dean’s List. The page also explains privacy guidelines, including FERPA and directory information.
Academic Policies and Student Records
Academic Probation
Students are placed on probation if:
- Their cumulative grade-point average (GPA) falls below 2.0. Students on probation for this reason who achieve a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher shall be removed from probation.
- They have two consecutive UK academic terms with term GPAs below 2.0 regardless of their cumulative GPA. Students who achieve a 2.0 or better in the next term and have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher will be removed from probation.
- If the student has completed all the academic and procedural requirements for the degree while still maintaining an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher (or the minimum GPA established by a specific college), the degree shall be awarded and the student placed in good standing.
- The summer session is subject to the same probation and suspension provisions as spring and fall.
Removal from Probation
Except as provided for by specific college probation policy, an undergraduate student may be removed from probation by the dean of the college when the student on scholastic probation has earned 90 semester hours (senior standing), and at the end of a semester or session has a cumulative grade-point standing of 2.0.
Learn more about Academic Probation.
Academic Suspension
Students are academically suspended if:
- They fail to earn a 2.0 term GPA for any term while on academic probation;
- They have three consecutive UK terms in which their cumulative GPA remains below 2.0;
or - Their GPA is below 0.6 after their first term, if the semester’s GPA is based on at least 9 hours of grades, A, B, C, D or E.
Notwithstanding the provisions above, in the case of a student eligible for suspension, the dean of the student’s college may continue a student on academic probation if the individual case so justifies with notification to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
A student academically suspended from the University may not enroll in any courses offered by the University, nor take any examination for University credit while on academic suspension.
A student academically suspended from the University a second time shall not be readmitted to the University except in unusual circumstances and then only upon recommendation of the dean of the college in which the student plans to enroll.
Once reported to the Registrar, an academic suspension may be rescinded by the dean only in the event of an error in the determination of the student’s eligibility for suspension, an official grade change that alters the student’s suspension eligibility, or exceptional circumstances.
Learn more about Academic Suspension.
Academic Suspension Appeal
Students placed on Academic Suspension at the University of Kentucky may appeal by the deadline given in their academic standing notification.
The appeal requires students to complete a form, plus provide a personal statement covering:
1. A detailed account of the reasons the student did not achieve their academic potential. Supportive documentation, if applicable, is encouraged.
2. A description of the circumstances that have changed to allow the student to perform at a satisfactory academic level, if eligible to return.
3. A specific plan of action that the student will implement to attain academic success (2.00 cumulative GPA), if their appeal is approved.
Dean's List
Students are eligible for the Dean’s List in the College of Education by meeting the following requirements during the Fall or Spring semester:
- Earn a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours for a letter grade
Missing or late-posted grades may result in a student being omitted from the list.
Under FERPA, we are required to maintain confidentiality for all students. Those who opt out of directory information receive an even greater level of privacy. As a result, when a privacy flag is active, the University cannot include the student’s name in any public materials, such as the Dean’s List or even the commencement program.
Dean’s List recognition will appear on the student’s official UK transcript beneath the term for which it is awarded.
If you believe your name was excluded in error, please contact us at collegeofed@uky.edu for assistance.
Reinstatement
After a student placed on academic suspension has remained out of the University for at least two terms, not including the winter intersession, students who have been academically suspended from the University may only be reinstated by the dean of the college in which they plan to enroll when they present evidence that they are capable of performing at the level required to prevent being suspended a second time. The deadline for students to schedule an appointment for reinstatement in all colleges is May 15 for the fall semester, and October 1 for the spring semester, March 1 for the summer session. The student needs to complete the reinstatement application, and the dean needs to make a decision about reinstatement, prior to the stated readmission application deadline. Reinstated students must meet admissions criteria to be eligible for readmission to the University.
Learn more about Reinstatement.
Retroactive Withdrawal
In order to be eligible for a retroactive withdrawal, a student must demonstrate satisfactory evidence that they have incurred one of the following that impacted the semester from which they are requesting to withdraw from:
- A serious injury or illness.
- Serious personal or family problems.
- Serious financial difficulties; or
- Permanent disability verified by the Disability Resource Center and diagnosed after the semester for which the withdrawal is requested.
Completed applications – including all required attachments – must be received within four years from the last day of classes of the semester from which withdrawal is requested AND prior to graduation (note: a student’s status in a course cannot be changed after graduation).
Learn more about Retroactive Withdrawal.
Hardship Withdrawal
Students may be allowed to withdraw from courses after the midterm withdrawal deadline due to non-academic reasons such as health-related issues, personal/family emergencies, or serious financial difficulties.
Academic Bankruptcy
Undergraduate students who have been readmitted through the usual channels after an interruption of two or more continuous years, and who have completed at least one semester or at least 12 hours with a GPA of 2.0 or better, beginning with the semester of readmission, may choose to have none of their previous University course work counted toward graduation and in the computation of their GPAs. Enrollment for a semester, when terminated by a withdrawal before completion of the semester (grades all W’s), in the two years preceding readmission is not an interruption. Under these circumstances, a student cannot invoke the academic bankruptcy rule.
In addition, the dean of the student’s college may permit such a readmitted student who has elected not to count past work to receive credit for selected courses without including those grades in the computation of the student’s GPA (cumulate or otherwise).
Part-time as well as full-time students can take advantage of the academic bankruptcy rule. Students need not have been originally suspended from the University to qualify for this option.
In calculating the 2.0 GPA, a student must have taken all of the 12 hours necessary to apply for bankruptcy for a letter grade. Course numbers ending with a suffix of R, if taken for a letter grade, shall count toward the 12-hour minimum of eligibility for bankruptcy under this rule.
If a student has completed a bachelor’s degree and re-enrolls, he/she may not apply the academic bankruptcy rule to courses taken for the degree already completed.
The Academic Bankruptcy option may be used only once.
Consult with your assigned academic advisor begin the Academic Bankruptcy process.
Learn more about Academic Bankruptcy.
Privacy Flag and Directory Information
Directory information is information contained within a student's educational record that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. The University of Kentucky is permitted to release directory information without consent of the student provided that student has not opted out.
Please note opting out of directory information release will prevent the University from being able to disclose information such as major, dates of attendance, enrollment status, as well as degrees and awards received to any third-party seeking verification, including potential employers. The University will also be unable to include your name in any publications, such as a dean's list or the commencement program.
Students are able to manage how their information may be released by the University of Kentucky at any time by logging into their myUK Student Portal and selecting the 'Student Services' tab. From this page, students may 'opt out' of directory information release
FERPA Designee
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives students certain rights with respect to their education records.
Students are able to manage how their information may be released by the University of Kentucky at any time by logging into their myUK Student Portal and selecting the 'Student Services' tab. From this page, students may authorize the University of Kentucky to release protected information to an individual other than the student by adding that individual as a FERPA designee.