The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) is committed to collaborating with advisors and inter/national organizations throughout the student organization conduct process and has created this page to support them as they navigate it. Here, you’ll find helpful tips, resources, and guidance for local advisors and inter/national organization representatives, along with information on requesting disciplinary checks for individual members.
Student Organizations Support Information
Resources for Local Advisors
Local advisor support is crucial for the success of student organizations. During the conduct process, local advisors can help provide important historical context on the organization and are an essential supportive measure for the student organization’s president.
Participation in Conduct Cases
Local advisors are encouraged to participate in the student organization conduct process as follows:
- Review the Student Code of Conduct
- Review all notices and documents sent by OSC to the student organization representative
- Attend all initial and follow-up meetings scheduled with OSC and the student organization
- Provide support to the student organization, its president, and members
- Promote honest, forthcoming, and prompt communication by the student organization, through its president and members
- Strive for a fair and amicable resolution between the organization and OSC
Scheduled Meetings
To promptly resolve conduct cases, OSC will schedule meetings consistent with students’ academic schedules. Advisors should consult with the student organization representative to determine meeting time(s). Advisors may attend virtually with a Zoom link provided by OSC.
Resources for Inter/National Organizations
At the University of Kentucky, we believe that fostering accountability within student organizations requires collaboration at every level. Inter/national organizations and/or regional representatives play a vital role in addressing and resolving concerns, and the opportunity to work together in this process is valued. Through open communication and partnership, the integrity of student organizations can be upheld while supporting their continued success.
Notification to Inter/National Organizations
OSC notifies an inter/national organization and/or regional representative, along with the organization’s advisor, of an alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct through a written notice of investigation.
*When the nature of the incident is more severe, OSC or an organization’s administrative liaison reserves the right to immediately contact the inter/national organization. University interim measures may also be taken at any point in an investigation.
Partnering Through Interim Measures
Interim measures are conditions or restrictions that may be placed on a student or student organization alleged to have violated the Code. These may be imposed to ensure the safety and well-being of members of the UK community or preserve UK property, ensure the student’s own physical or emotional safety and well-being, or to ensure that normal operations of UK are not disrupted. Generally, OSC or the organization’s support office will contact the inter/national organization prior to issuing an interim measure. Wherever possible, OSC works with inter/national organizations to craft language to recommend to the Dean of Students that feels appropriate based on the allegations and keeps the members and community at large safe.
Student organizations placed on interim measures have the right to an Interim Measure Hearing within three business days to assess whether there is substantial evidence that the organization poses a risk to campus safety and if the interim measure is appropriate. At the hearing, organizations may address the reliability of the information and whether their presence on campus presents an immediate threat. Organizations will receive a notification letter with hearing details. Regardless of the hearing outcome, the organization will proceed through the student conduct process to determine responsibility for any alleged violations.
Please notify OSC at studentconduct@uky.edu or 859-257-3755 if your organization becomes aware of concerning behavior and may impose interim measures in response to an incident.
Partnering Through the Conduct Process
- Participating in Investigation Meetings: If a FERPA waiver is on file for a member, an inter/national organization and/or regional representative may participate in OSC meetings with members of the student organization.
- Collaborating on Restorative Action Recommendations: If OSC determines it is more likely than not that the student organization violated the Code, OSC will often work with the inter/national organization on the recommended restorative actions. Inter/national organizations often have educational programming that is specific to their organization and can create more buy-in for the members. When possible, OSC tries to align recommended outcomes with any outcomes the inter/national organization is also imposing.
Requesting Individual Member Conduct Checks
OSC is able to work with organizations to provide conduct records of their individual members to the organization’s advisors, inter/national organization, and/or regional representatives. To provide this information, the students must have completed a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) waiver. FERPA only applies to individual students, not student organizations.
To request a conduct check for your organization’s members, please email OSC at studentconduct@uky.edu. Please be advised that it typically takes 3-5 business days, but potentially longer during busy seasons, for disciplinary checks to be completed and processed.