SMILE Week (mandatory): July 27-29
Orientation/Academic Year Begins: August 3
White Coat Ceremony: Friday, August 28 at 6:00 PM at the Singletary Center for the Arts
Financial Aid Questions? Contact UKCD Financial Aid Coordinator Amy McHone at Amy.McHone@uky.edu.
Students wanting to receive Federal Aid need to file the 2026-2027 FAFSA on www.studentaid.gov. The office will begin reviewing data at the end of June, and award letters will go out the end of June/beginning of July.
During the last week of June, the UK main campus Financial Aid Office will email a Digital Financial Aid Notice to those students awarded Federal Financial Aid (Scholarships and Unsubsidized Loans). You will need to follow the instructions to accept or reject the aid offered and complete the necessary Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Notes for the loans you decide to accept. A Statement of Obligation must be completed before Federal Financial Aid can be disbursed.
Students needing additional funds will need to apply for a private loan. You can find a comparison chart of different lenders out UK students have used over the last three years at https://www.elmselect.com/v4/school/850/program/1/lender-results. The maximum you can borrow is the Cost of Attendance minus all other aid received. Remember, ONLY borrow what you need to cover your expenses.
Instructions will be sent shortly by the Student Affairs Office after the emails go out to review your aid offered. The instructions will include Entrance Counseling and Promissory Notes for all loans. There will also be instructions to set up direct deposit, so you will receive your refund in a timely manner.
Beginning July 13, 2026, the College of Dentistry Financial Aid Office will start checking to see that you have completed everything required so we can disburse your aid to pay your fees and release refunds for living expenses.
Keep in mind your financial aid has been processed for the year. There are two disbursements; fall and spring. The fall disbursement should occur in the first week of August provided you have completed everything. The spring disbursement will be in January. These disbursements post to your “Tuition and Fees” with Student Account Services first. Any aid you receive over the cost of tuition and fees is considered a refund and will be released via direct deposit within a few days of posting.
If all instructions are followed, you should have fees paid and refunds in your account before school begins. The Student Affairs Office will have updates and reminders during Smile Week. Notifications for any incomplete files will be sent in July, so watch for emails.
UKCD will need official final transcripts mailed by July 1, from all schools attended sent directly to the college. AADSAS does not provide those to the college; they only send us a report of your grades.
Send transcripts to:
University of Kentucky College of Dentistry Admissions & Student Affairs D155 Chandler Medical Center Lexington, KY 40536-0297
Please note: if you are taking a summer course, please email Rebekah Huff (rebekah.huff@uky.edu) for instructions on when to send final transcripts.
All UKCD students are required to meet with a nurse in University Health Services for vaccinations to ensure compliance. You should start gathering your vaccine documents now; any missing vaccines must be administered prior to your arrival at SMILE Week. You can review a complete list of required immunizations here. The deadline for compliance is August 31.
Compliance forms are issued by University Health Service (UHS) only after all requirements are satisfied. If you have questions about your immunizations, please contact UHS directly at 859-323-2778. Student Health has provided instructions on how to upload your compliance documentation here.
All new healthcare college students are required to complete either a two-step TB skin test or an equivalent blood test known as an IGRA. If you have had a TB test within the last year, please bring a copy of the results with you to your appointment. Only the two-step TB screening is provided at no cost to students; the IGRA blood test will incur a fee. You must complete this questionnaire even if you have a prior positive TB test of any kind or a TB vaccination.
Once your immunizations are approved by student health, they will generate a compliance document. You must submit a copy of your compliance form to the UKCD Clinical Affairs Department at COD_IMMUNE@uky.edu by August 31. Failure to do so may be result in failure to participate in clinical activities.
Before you can undergo fit testing, you must complete an OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire (MEQ) beginning May 1, 2026. It is important that you do not complete the questionnaire before May 1, To complete the MEQ, you must:
Complete the form in its entirety to the best of your knowledge. When you encounter the following questions, please answer as directed:
All MEQ responses must be submitted by July 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST.
Rebekah will be sending information on how to active and access your UK official e-mail (Office 365). Once all students have activated their UK e-mail account, a UKCD Class of 2030 distribution list will be created for communication purposes.
The UKCD DMD student calendar is developed and housed within the Google Apps for Education calendar tool. This approach allows an ever-changing schedule to be easily communicated to our students and faculty in a real-time environment.
Instructions to Activate UKCD Google Calendar Access
1. Log in to your Account Manager: https://ukam.uky.edu/Account/Login
2. Under the “Email” tab, you should see “Google Account Details” followed by Not Configured: Configure Now – select Configure Now
3. After you activate your Google Account, follow these instructions to set up your Google Calendar and to access your Class of 2029 shared Google Calendar. You must be logged out of all personal Google/Gmail accounts, including in your browser, before you are able to set up the Google Calendar.
Please note: Your Office365 UK email account will remain the primary mode of communication. Never transmit HIPAA/FERPA/PHI or any protected information through your g.uky email account! This is not a secure server and confidentiality is not maintained. Always use your UK Office365 account (@uky.edu) for these types of communications.
You are not required to maintain the g.uky.edu email; all calendar changes/additions will be communicated via your Office365 account during the semester.
If you encounter any trouble in Google account activation, or to troubleshoot a potential password issue, you may contact the UK Information Technology Help Desk at 859-218-HELP (859-218-4357).
On day one of SMILE Week, plan to wear business casual; however, during SMILE Week here are some items to note:
Once classes begin, you can wear scrubs and tennis shoes. You will receive further guidelines regarding clinic dress during Orientation.
Monday, July 27: please plan to arrive between 8:00 AM and 8:45 AM.
Tuesday, July 28: please plan to arrive between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM.
Wednesday, July 29: please plan to arrive between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM.
All UKCD students are required to use respiratory protection, and an initial mask fit testing is required on an annual basis. Mandatory fit testing will take place on Thursday, July 30 from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM. Testing will take place by appointment in the College of Dentistry, room 132. Before you can undergo fit testing, you must complete an OSHA Respirator Medical Evaluation Questionnaire (MEQ).
The College of Dentistry requires all incoming dental students be certified in an approved CPR training program every two years. During your first and third year, typically during Orientation, you will be required to attend CPR training. A copy of your CPR certification card must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs (both front and back with signature). Please note: even if you are already CPR certified, UK requires that you complete the certification provided during Orientation.
As an enrolled student paying the student activity fee, including the Student Health Fee, you are eligible to use University Health Service for minor needs (primary care visits, some basic prescriptions, health education). However, this does NOT cover major expenses such as surgery, hospitalization, special testing, prescriptions, etc., so you need a health coverage plan. The College cannot require health coverage, but we do expect it. You put yourself at great financial risk without it.
There is a Student Health Plan available for students at the University of Kentucky; enrollment is provided by Academic HealthPlans and ID cards and coverage are provided and underwritten by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Visit uky.myahpcare.com for more information.
Learn more about the Student Health Plan, Vision, and Dental: https://hr.uky.edu/insurance-and-retirement/health-insurance-and-benefits/student-health-plan
Please email Chavae Mock (studenthealthplan@uky.edu), Student Health Plan Administrator, if you have any questions or are interested in purchasing early coverage beginning on either July 1 or August 1.
You may certainly use your own plan, but be sure to learn about the provider network, copays, deductibles, and limitations of your coverage. No matter what plan you use, it is always important to remember that you are responsible for understanding it. Understanding your plan may save you substantial amounts of money.
Campus Parking Map - Daytime Overall (see D & H locations near VA Hospital on map)
See Campus Parking Maps for the most up-to-date parking maps.
You will be issued a Wildcat Student ID card and a UK HealthCare ID card, which you will be required to wear every day. Both will be given to you at SMILE Week. If you are a graduate or former staff member of UK, you must turn in your old ID before you can receive a new one.
You may drop off your old ID card in College of Dentistry M-134, or mail your old card to:
You will have two lockers assigned and combination locks will be provided in your student kits during instrument distribution. Sixth floor lockers are mostly used for instruments, tackle boxes, etc. (items for pre-clinical lab). Basement/student lounge lockers are generally used for overflow and personal items.
Measurements of the front frames of the lockers for those who want to buy/build a shelf are below. Check your locker first as you may inherit a shelf from a previous student.
You will receive the first-year textbook list upon arrival. We will be sure to update you once we receive information about ordering textbooks. First-year instrument kits will be distributed during the week of August 4. Instrument kit fees appear as part of your Tuition and Fees with Student Account Services and when aid is released these fees will be paid before a refund in generated.
Computers and Loupes are recognized as an educational expense, which can be built into the Cost of Attendance budget under “Required Books/Manuals,” as a one-time expense, for your benefit. Please contact the Financial Aid Coordinator with any questions.
Minimum Laptop Requirements: We do not recommend any laptop to be more than 4 years old at the start of your first year. Your device may be a Windows laptop (Windows 11 or higher), or a Mac (MacOS 11 Monterey or higher), and must have the following minimum requirements:
Windows
Mac
iPad/Tablets (optional)
Please note: Due to your time at the College of Dentistry, and consideration of device antiquation, we do not recommend any laptop to be more than 4 years old at the start of your first year. iPads should not be a primary device - they are not compatible with our Citrix client. We do not recommend Chromebooks or Android Tablets as they are not compatible with our testing software. Chromebooks and Android Tablets will NOT be supported.
Personal Device Policy
Please review the College’s Personal Device Policy.
Questions? Contact the IT Help Desk for assistance.