When a report is received, the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) determines if there is enough information to support an alleged violation and which violations have happened.  

If more information is necessary, the conduct officer assigned to the case may schedule an investigation meeting with a student to discuss the report and ask questions. Before this meeting, students complete an investigation participation form and are encouraged to review Student Rights in the Conduct Process.  

After an investigation, if the conduct officer determines that there isn’t a violation of the Code the report will be dismissed. Otherwise, the conduct officer will move on in the process.  

It is important to note that not all reports require an investigation. 

When a student is charged with an alleged violation of the Code, the conduct officer sends an informal meeting notice to the student. This meeting is scheduled based on the student’s academic schedule.  

During these meetings, a student and the conduct officer review the report together, and the student is given an opportunity to respond to and discuss the incident in more detail. At the conclusion of this conversation, the conduct officer will determine if the preponderance of evidence was met that a violation took place.  

If the preponderance of evidence is met, and the student accepts responsibility, the student and the conduct officer discuss restorative actions. 

From there, a student can accept the restorative action plan and resolve the situation within the informal meeting or request an outcome review or a formal hearing on the restorative actions only. If the preponderance of evidence is met and the student does not accept responsibility, the case is sent to either an Outcome Review or a Formal Hearing. If the suggested RAP includes disciplinary suspension, disciplinary expulsion, cancellation of housing contract, or revocation of student organization registration, the student is eligible for a Formal Hearing. All other cases are eligible for an Outcome Review.

These meetings are closed; however, a student may have up to two support people in attendance. 

An Outcome Review by another conduct officer in the Office of Student Conduct, typically the Associate Director or Director of Student Conduct, may be requested in matters where informal resolution is not reached and the recommended restorative actions do not include includes disciplinary suspension, disciplinary expulsion, cancellation of housing contract, or revocation of student organization registration. A student may request an outcome review if:

• The conduct officer determines sufficient information exists to support the preponderance of the evidence for an alleged violation and the respondent does not accept responsibility for the alleged violation; or
• If the conduct officer determines sufficient information does exist to support the preponderance of the evidence for an alleged violation and the respondent accepts responsibility for the alleged violation but does not accept the restorative actions.

Decisions made by the outcome review conduct officer are final. 

In cases where the potential outcomes include disciplinary suspension, disciplinary expulsion, cancellation of housing contract or revocation of SO status and when informal resolution is not reached, the matter will be referred to a formal hearing. 

Formal hearings are closed meetings that permit UK, the respondent, and other appropriate parties to address the alleged violation and/or restorative actions with a hearing board. Only individuals with a legitimate role in the hearing process are permitted to attend or participate in a hearing.

Information on the formal hearing process and the related appeals can be found at: https://regs.uky.edu/administrative-regulation/ar-ar-due-process-interim.

A student or student organization may appeal when a formal hearing results in a finding of responsibility for a violation of the Code of Student Conduct and the restorative action includes any of the following:

• (a) disciplinary expulsion; 
• (b) disciplinary suspension exceeding three (3) days; 
• (c) revocation of status as a registered student organization; or 
• (d) termination of the respondent’s residence in campus housing. 

The decision made in an Appeal is final.

Under certain circumstances, the Dean of Students or their designee may impose interim measures prior to the completion of the student conduct process to ensure the safety and well-being of members of the UK community, ensure the student’s own safety and well-being, or to ensure that the normal operations of UK are not disrupted. 

While any measures are considered, the most common interim measure is interim suspension from the UK premises.  

When any interim measure is taken, the Dean of Students or designee will notify the student immediately in writing, including the reasons for the interim measure and the rights to an interim measure hearing within three business days.

We understand that the conduct process can seem daunting. At every step of the process, a student has the right to have up to two support persons with them. A support person can engage with their student to provide emotional and other support.

For more information, check out our resource page for support persons here: Support Person Resources

All members of the residential community, students and staff alike are responsible for maintaining University Housing Community Standards (UHCS). If a resident engages in behavior that is considered a violation of one of these standards, a staff member will write an incident report. Follow-up on an incident report may involve an informal meeting between the involved party and a Housing Conduct Officer. After discussing the incident, if the Housing Conduct Officer determines that a violation of the UHCS occurred, a restorative action plan may be issued.

Incident reports may also be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and/or the Office of Equal Opportunity. Referred incidents will be resolved according to the policies and procedures of the department responsible for the resolution. Any case that may result in the termination of a student’s residence in campus housing will be automatically referred to the Office of Student Conduct.

Outcome Review

When the incident is handled by residence life staff under the University Housing Community Standards, a student can request an outcome review. 

In the informal meeting outcome letter, students are provided information on how to request this. A student must submit an Outcome Review Request within seven business days of the notification. An Outcome Review Conduct Officer will schedule a meeting with the student for discussion on the informal meeting outcome. 

Outcome Review decisions are final.

University Housing Community Standards