Graduating? What to Do With Your UK Accounts and Mail Before You Go

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 22, 2021) — University of Kentucky Information Technology Services (ITS) would like to inform all students about best practices for your UK accounts, including email, before you leave the university. Starting April 14, ITS will turn on automatic account deprovisioning for students who are no longer enrolled with the University of Kentucky (e.g., graduated, transferred). This process is in accordance with University Administrative Regulation 10:1 and is essential to keeping systems and data at UK safe from cybersecurity attacks, as well as remaining compliant with vendor software license contracts.  

After April 14, students who are no longer enrolled at the university will have their accounts turned off after nine months from the date of their separation (e.g., graduation date, last date of course registration). Please keep in mind that these students will receive multiple notifications via email before their accounts are turned off and any student who chooses to stay with the university for employment or further coursework will not be affected.  

Keeping this in mind, ITS would like to share best practices with all students for your UK accounts: 

  1. Never use your UK email address as the main address for personal accounts.   It is important to keep a personal email address for services that are not associated with UK (e.g., bank accounts, music/streaming services, utilities). This ensures that you do not lose access to any important accounts, should you leave the university.  

  1. Do not store personal files in your UK storage accounts (e.g., OneDrive, Google Drive).   By keeping personal files in a personal email, you know you will always have access to them.  

  1. Add a personal email to Account Manager (ukam.uky.edu).   Making sure that UK has a personal or alternate email address for you not only gives you another method of account password recovery, but also gives UK a way to confirm you are indeed you if ever you need to get documentation from the university in the future. See How to Set Up an External Email Address for instructions on how to add your personal email. 

Graduating soon? Here’s what you can do now. 

  1. If your UK account is tied to personal accounts or you have personal files in your UK storage, begin migrating them to a personal email or storage account now.   

  1. Notify anyone who communicates with you through your @uky.edu or @g.uky.edu addresses about your new email address.   

  1. Update your record with the UK Alumni Association to make sure they have your most up-to-date information.  

  1. Familiarize yourself with the myDocs Document Portal. This self-service portal allows you to get important documents like Student 1098-T and unofficial transcripts should you need them after your UK account is deprovisioned. More instructions at How To Use The myDocs Document Portal

ITS appreciates the support of students in our cybersecurity efforts and following best practices for an easy transition in and out of the university. More details on student account deprovisioning can be found at What happens to my UK account when I graduate? 

For questions about the account deprovisioning process, email ITSaboutYou@uky.edu. For 24/7 immediate technical assistance, please contact ITS Customer Services at 859-218-HELP (4357) or visit the Technology Help Center at http://techhelpcenter.uky.edu. For assistance with non-urgent matters, email 218help@uky.edu

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.