Student Resources

Forms

Academic Calendar

Audit Form

Change of Grade Form

Student Catalog

Student Organizations

KYCO Withdrawal Form

Emergency Loan Form


Mental Health Resources

Our partnership with Uwill, the leading mental health and wellness solution for colleges and students, to provide our students immediate access to licensed counselors by video, phone, chat or message.

Scan the QR code on the image below to access the Uwill app from your mobile devices app store.

If you have trouble accessing the QR code the button below will take you to the Uwill website.


Transcript Requests

Transcript requests are handled by the University of Pikeville’s Registrar’s Office. All transcript requests are now being done online. To request a transcript, click on the following link:

Registrar’s Office

If you do not already have a Parchment account, you will be required to create one at this time. Transcript processing fees do apply and are payable by credit card. Anyone who has an outstanding financial obligation to the university cannot obtain a transcript until the delinquency has been paid in full.

If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone in the Registrar’s Office, please call (606) 218-5260.


Room Reservations

Please read/download the document linked below for information regarding study room reservations


Mothers Room

蝴蝶直播 provides rooms to support nursing parents upon returning to work, school, or campus.  Any nursing parent who is a 蝴蝶直播 community member can use either of the convenient mother鈥檚 rooms.  Each room offers a clean, secure, and private space for parents during their time on campus.  All rooms are equipped with comfortable seating, electrical outlets, and refrigerators.  Below is a list of the rooms and details about location, access, and accommodations for each.  Please contact the appropriate room manager for registration prior to use.

Health Professions Education Building, Room 402 
Access Contact: Carolyn Caudill, (606) 218-5400 or carolyncaudill@upike.edu

Coal Building, Mezzanine
Access: KYCOM Student Affairs – 5th Floor Suite, 606-218-5400 or carolyncaudill@upike.edu



FAQs

Please contact our admissions team at kycoadmissions@upike.edu or (606) 218-5286.

Completed applications must be received by the March 31 deadline to be considered for admission.

Students applying to any school or college of optometry in the United States and Puerto Rico must do so through the optometry centralized application service, OptomCAS:

The OptomCAS service allows prospective students to submit one application that will be sent to multiple optometry programs. The service is designed to streamline the application process and make it more efficient and user-friendly.

KYCO has included any supplemental questions in OptomCAS. There is currently no supplemental application or a supplemental application fee.

Optometry Admission Test (OAT)

Please find additional information and resources about the Optometry Admission Test at:

 

Yes, you can take the OAT more than once. Your highest scores will be taken into consideration.

Please refer to the OAT Examinee Guide located at for detailed information on the administration of the examination. Test preparation materials and a sample test are located at the same website location.

No. In addition to the OAT, the Dental Admission Test (DAT), Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores are accepted for admission to KYCO.

Miscellaneous

The Kentucky College of Optometry awards the degree of Doctor of Optometry (O.D.).

Applicants will be considered on the basis of academic performance represented by coursework grades, course load, academic trends, degree of course difficulty and scores on the components of the Optometry Admission Test or other permitted professional exam. In addition, the applicant review will include consideration of non-academic qualifications such as: positions of leadership held, volunteer activities in optometric or other healthcare related services, extra-curricular activities, communication skills (as demonstrated in the personal statement and interview) and letters of evaluation, in no particular order of preference or weight.
鈥 Cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale*
鈥 Overall OAT Score: 300*

*In exceptional cases where the strength of the overall application may warrant consideration of a lower GPA or OAT score.

Although a four-year baccalaureate degree is highly recommended, students are eligible to matriculate after successfully completing three years (90 credits from a four-year college or university) of study.

KYCO welcomes future students from various academic backgrounds, no matter your major; however, all accepted students must complete all of the KYCO prerequisite courses prior to entering the O.D. program.

We expect to seat 60 students per year.

KYCO accepts both residents of the United States and international students.

Criminal Background Checks

KYCO requires criminal background checks for all students prior to matriculating to KYCO and prior to the beginning of fourth-year clinical rotations. Background checks are completed through Verified Credentials. There is no cost associated with the initial background check, however, students are responsible for the cost of the background check completed prior to rotations.

  • Mandatory Self-Reporting for Criminal Behavior听鈥 All accepted and currently enrolled medical students are required to promptly (within 10 calendar days) report any criminal charges ever filed against them to the KYCO Director of Student Affairs. Criminal behavior includes any felony and misdemeanor violations of the law, but excludes minor traffic violations, such as parking tickets. Any charges that were previously disclosed on the OptoCAS application need not be reported again. Student violations of the law will be reviewed by the Director of Student Affairs in the context of future implications for licensure, threat to patient safety, and the ability to be an appropriate member of the optometric profession. Depending on the nature and severity of the criminal offense, student suspension or dismissal is possible. If warranted, the KYCO Director of Admissions may refer the matter to the admissions committee.

Drug Testing

KYCO requires students to submit four drug tests during their enrollment: a drug screening during new student orientation, prior to the beginning of second-year fall courses, prior to third-year clinical rotations, and prior to the beginning of fourth-year rotations. Tests performed through KYCO are at no-cost. Students are responsible for the expense involved with this testing if it is completed through an outside provider. Positive findings will be reviewed by the KYCO Office of Student Affairs and/or the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs In some cases, further evaluation by external professional consultants may be required. A positive test result may become grounds for dismissal.

 

Additional Drug Testing. A student may be directed to complete additional drug testing if the KYCO Dean, Professional Conduct & Ethics Committee Committee, and/or the KYCO Office of Student Affairs determines there is reasonable suspicion that the student has violated University drug policies. In addition, at times random drug screenings may be performed.听 In these cases, the testing will be done at no cost to the student.

Health Insurance

KYCO requires that students maintain personal health insurance for the entire duration of their enrollment and upload proof of health insurance coverage in Verified Credentials for the duration of their time at KYCO. All KYCO students are required to enroll in the KYCO student health insurance plan or obtain a waiver from the KYCO insurance administrator, HSA Consulting, Inc. Information about the student health insurance plan, including enrollment and waiver procedures, is available on the website.听 Students who fail to enroll in or obtain a waiver for the health insurance plan will be automatically enrolled and their account charged accordingly.

Students are expected to maintain a relationship with a personal healthcare provider and to see to their personal and preventative health. Students are encouraged to contact the KYCO Office of Student Affairs whenever they are having a health-related issue, especially if the issue could affect their academic performance or attendance.

Immunizations

Because of patient contact and potential exposure to infectious material from patients during these clinical experiences, KYCO students have the potential for exposure to (and possible transmission of) vaccine-preventable diseases.听 Optometry Students are included in the definition of non-paid healthcare personnel (HCP), and therefore included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Immunization of Healthcare Personnel: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).听 It is therefore incumbent on the College, and required by our clinical education partners, that all KYCO students provide documentation of required immunizations and titers prior to matriculation at KYCO and during their KYCO enrollment.听 This documentation is required to be uploaded into the Qualified First/Verified Credentials website for dissemination to clinical education sites throughout the students鈥 enrollment at KYCO. Students are responsible for all costs associated with meeting this requirement.听 All immunization/titer requirements must be uploaded prior to a student arriving on campus for first-year orientation.

 

 

 

Please refer to the following chart below for the KYCO requirements, which are based on ACIP Recommendations.

Vaccine Schedule Titers Notes
Hepatitis B Total of 3 doses.听 4 weeks between dose 1 and dose 2; 5 months between dose 2 and 3.听 Pre-vaccination erologic screening is not indicated Titers are required to document immunity and should be drawn 1-2 months after 3 dose series to document immunity.

 

In the case of childhood HepB vaccination, student still must have a positive titer prior to matriculating at KYCO.

If no documented immunity, should repeat 3 dose series, and retest for immunity.听 If still not immune, consult with Clinical Affairs at KYCO (Phone number: (606) 218-5528) for recommendations
Measles, Mumps, Rubella

(MMR)

2 doses SC; > 28 days

apart

Titers are not required to document immunity if the 2- dose series was received at the recommended interval.
Varicella 2 doses SC; 4-8 weeks apart if age 13 or older. If has laboratory evidence of
Immunity (via positive antibodies), immunization may be waived.
Titers are not required to document immunity if the 2-dose series was received at the recommended interval.

 

Titer is required if the only documentation is a personal history of chicken pox.

Personal history of chicken pox alone is not proof of immunity.听 Titers are required in that case and if not immune, will be required to undergo immunization with vaccine.
Adult Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis

(Tdap)

At least one Tdap prior to

matriculation, then Td booster every 10 years

No titers
Annual Influenza

Must be updated yearly No titers
Annual TB test;

May do Mantoux skin testing, or blood testing via T-spot or QFT-GIT.

Must be updated yearly;

Any positive result, or history of positive results requires a chest radiograph every 3 years (except for BCG vaccinated individuals 鈥 see note)

 

No titers For those persons who received a BCG vaccine, an Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) such as T-SPOT-TB or QuantiFERON-TB must performed annually.
COVID-19 Per CDC/FDA recommendations No titers Will modify as recommendations evolve.

 

You may be required to have additional immunizations or testing at clinical placements throughout the duration of your enrollment. The clinical affiliations that the University has with various hospitals, health centers, and Veteran Administration Hospitals require these immunizations and tests before any clinical activity. Please refer to the Externship Manual for additional information.

Optometrists are doctors who are specifically trained on the overall health of the eyes and act as the primary eye health provider. Doctors of Optometry (O.D. degree) work with refractive errors and maintenance and/or treatment of medical eye diseases and in Kentucky are licensed to perform certain laser surgical procedures. Optometrists are licensed doctors who are held to the same legal standard as physicians. A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O. degree) is a professional doctoral degree offered by medical schools and is founded on philosophy of treating people, not just symptoms. Osteopathic physicians have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as an M.D. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine are licensed to practice the full scope of medicine and can perform surgery in 60 countries, including all 50 states in the United States.

Additional questions?

Email the Office of Admissions at kycoadmissions@upike.edu and we’ll be happy to help you.