Academic Information and Regulations

Students are required to know and observe the academic regulations of the University. Although guidance may be provided by faculty advisors, it is the student’s individual responsibility to know the rules stated in this Catalog and the University’s website. The University accepts no responsibility for errors caused by the failure of a student to follow the appropriate rules and regulations. It is strongly recommended that when there is any doubt or question about the rules, the student consult with the dean of the school.

Accreditation and Memberships

The University of Hartford is accredited by and in good standing with the Board of Higher Education of the State of Connecticut and by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which accredits schools and colleges in the six New England states. Membership in the association indicates that the institution has been carefully evaluated and found to meet standards agreed upon by qualified educators.

Four health professions programs in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions are accredited by the following agencies: the Radiography program by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), 20 North Wacker Dr., Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60606- 2901, tel. 312.704.5300; and the Respiratory Care program by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), 1248 Harwood Rd., Bedford, TX 76021-4244, tel. 817.283.2835. The Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association, 111 North Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314, tel. 703.706.3245. The foundational curriculum for the Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP), 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756, tel. 727.210.2350. The program was approved by the Department of Higher Education, State of Connecticut, in 2009. Upon completion of the program requirements, students are eligible for their two-year professional residency.

The nursing programs in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001; telephone: 202.887.6971. Information about the accreditation process is available at CCNE.

The Department of Nursing belongs to the following organizations: the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the National League for Nursing (NLN), and the Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN).

The teacher education program, including teacher education in music, through the Sixth-Year Certificate, is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and by the Connecticut State Department of Education.

In the College of Arts and Sciences, the Doctor of Psychology program leading to the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association. Any questions regarding the program’s accreditation may be directed to Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First St., NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242; 202.336.5979. The School Psychology program is nationally accredited through the National Association of School Psychologists and National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education partnership (NASP/NCATE). The Department of Chemistry is included in the list of departments approved by the American Chemical Society. The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) program is designed to meet the standards set by the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society, and students who complete the B.S. program will be certified to the A.C.S. upon graduation.

The University Studies Paralegal Studies and Paralegal Certificate programs are approved by the American Bar Association.

The Hartford Art School is accredited by and holds membership in the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

The Hartt School is accredited by and holds membership in the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Schools of Theatre, and the National Association of Schools of Dance.

All programs in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture are licensed and accredited by the State of Connecticut Board of Higher Education. The following programs in the college are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET): Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree in Acoustical Engineering and Music, Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Contact ABET at 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; 410.347.7700; https://www.abet.org. The Bachelor of Science programs in Electronic Engineering Technology, Architectural Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Engineering Technology are accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET. Contact ABET at 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012; 410.347.7700; https://www.abet.org. The Master of Architecture program is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) 1735 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 2006; https://www.abet.org.

The Board of Higher Education of the State of Connecticut accredits the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture’s Master of Engineering programs. According to ABET regulations, ABET does not accredit both undergraduate and graduate programs at the same institution.

The University is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA).

The Barney School of Business holds membership in, and is accredited by, AACSB International-the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB International accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. AACSB International accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in management education. AACSB International accreditation assures stakeholders that business schools manage resources to achieve a vibrant and relevant mission, advance business and management knowledge through faculty scholarship, provide high-caliber teaching of quality and current curricula, cultivate meaningful interaction between students and a qualified faculty, and produce graduates who have achieved specified learning goals.

The University is an institutional member of the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The University complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which affords students certain rights with respect to their education records:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct person to whom the request should be addressed.
    
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.

Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading.

If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to University officials with legitimate educational interests. A University official is a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, research, or support staff position, including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff; a person or company with whom the University has contracted, such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent; a person serving on the board of regents; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her task.

A University official has a legitimate educational interest if he/she needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

The Act allows the University to issue “directory information.” This would include name, address, telephone number, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, major field of study, and similar information. Any student objecting to the release of directory information should bring this to the attention of the registrar. Upon written notification, the directory information will be withheld.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA are Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.

Registration

Students must be officially registered by the beginning of the first class meeting. Matriculated graduate students are expected to register continuously until graduation. The definition and policy concerning continuous registration varies by program. Pertinent information may be obtained by consulting with the graduate program directors.

Please note, all students are required to accept enrollment terms and conditions prior to registering for class. Acceptance can be done in advance through the student self-service center or will be prompted at the time of registration.

Academic Credit

The credit (often referred to as “semester hour” or “credit hour”) is the unit by which academic work is measured. In most cases, 1 credit represents satisfactory completion of the course work required for one 50-minute class meeting per week for one semester.

One credit in laboratory or studio work usually represents satisfactory completion of two or three 50-minute laboratory or studio periods per week for one semester.

The hours needed to earn credits for an internship, practicum, thesis research, or a special project vary according to graduate program.

Academic Load per Semester

Full-time status for graduate students is set at the program level with approval of the academic dean and provost. Unless otherwise indicated in the Graduate Catalog, a minimum load of 9 credits per semester during the academic year is required to be classified as a full-time graduate student. For summer-only students, a minimum load of 6 credits is required during the summer.

Depending on the school or program in which the student is enrolled, tuition charges may be based on either a per-credit-hour rate or a fulltime graduate study rate.

Alternative Education and Service Format

When necessary to protect the health and safety of students, faculty and staff, as determined by the University in its sole discretion, the University reserves the right to alter (a) the academic schedule, location and modality of instructional and learning activities, and academic terms and requirements (including content and grading) of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs and instruction; and (b) the schedule, location, availability and format of services, activities, and experiences offered to students. Students shall not be entitled to refunds or offsets of tuition, fees, or other costs of attendance where the University exercises such discretion, except to the extent permitted by the University’s refund policies.

Attendance

Regular class attendance is expected, and excessive absence, regardless of reason, may disqualify a student for course credit.

Course Numbering System

Under this numbering system, the first position identifies the course level as follows:

0 = noncredit
1, 2, 3, or 4 = undergraduate level
5 = graduate-level course that may be taken by advanced undergraduate students with special permission
6, 7, 8, or 9 = graduate-level courses open only to graduate students

The use of the second and third number positions is left to the discretion of the department except for the designations X90-X99, which are reserved for special topics courses.

Courses listed under more than one department having the same content are separated with a slash: BIO 520/PSY 571.

Hyphenated numbers designate two-semester courses, which must be taken in sequence. Code numbers separated by commas indicate that either half of the course must be taken independently. In the sections of this Catalog that contain course descriptions, the numbers in brackets represent credits per semester. Any prerequisite or special fees for that course appear following the course description. For example:

CON 600-601 Advanced Conducting I and II [2-2] Score preparation and conducting techniques with special emphasis on the problems of major choral and instrumental compositions. Aspects of style and interpretation. Prerequisite: CON 314, 315, or 316; or equivalent.

This a graduate-level, two-semester course, carrying 2 credits each semester, and must be taken in sequence.

Noncredit Courses

When the first digit of a course number is 0, the course carries no college credit. Credit figures in parentheses are not used in calculating grade point averages or class standing. The figure in parentheses is used only for determining credit-hour load for the purposes of computing time status and the tuition-per-credit cost for part-time students, for example:

ENGH 099 [(3)] This course is a comprehensive review of English fundamentals, focusing on grammar and mechanics. It is intended to build competence and confidence with the written word and prepare students for college-level composition courses. (This course may not be used to meet the distribution requirements and does not count toward the minimum credit requirement for graduation.)

Grading System

Grades based on the following system are reported and recorded at the end of each session.

The policy for assigning plus and minus grades or grades lower than C, in schools offering graduate programs, is to be determined by the individual school or college.

Grades in the A range are excellent; in the B range, good; in the C range, mediocre; in the D range, poor; F is a failure.

**The grade NG is only appropriate for courses, undergraduate and graduate, that usually take more than one semester to complete (such as University scholar projects, dissertations, and clinical experiences). The Registrar’s Office, working with the schools and colleges, will maintain a list of courses that usually take more than one semester or term to complete in which a grade of NG can be issued. In cases of work that normally should be completed in a semester or term, an Incomplete (I) should be issued when the work is not fully completed.

Grade Point Average

The grade point average is obtained by multiplying academic credits by grade point value for the grade assigned in each course and dividing the sum of the grade points thus obtained by the total number of academic credits attempted. All courses taken and grades received at the University of Hartford that are applicable to the student’s current program or major are included in the computation of GPA. Courses marked NG, W, NP, or I are not included in the calculation of GPA (please see section on Courses Repeated). The grade point averages are calculated to the hundredth position and are not rounded.

Makeup Examinations

Students should consult their instructors for permission to take a makeup examination and for the required procedure.

A fee is required for makeup examinations.

Withdrawal from Courses

All requests for withdrawal must be made in writing. Administrative withdrawal during the first 10 weeks of a semester may result from excessive absence or from other circumstances that are considered as justifying such action.

A student who withdraws or who is withdrawn from a course during the first three weeks of a regular semester is removed from the class roll and the registration is voided. Withdrawals made in the fourth through the 10th week of a regular semester course will result in a grade of W.

Thereafter, in either case, a letter grade (A-F or I) must be issued. Exceptions for cause (e.g., illness) may be initiated by the dean of the school or college in which the student is matriculated or, in the case of a nonmatriculated student, the dean of the school or college offering the course involved.

Note that refunds to students withdrawing from courses can be made only in accordance with the policy and schedule set forth by the University. All financial obligations not covered by the University’s refund policy must be met.

Summer: A student who withdraws or is withdrawn from a course before completion of 20 percent of the scheduled class hours of the course is removed from the class roll, and registration is voided. Withdrawal thereafter, but before completion of 50 percent of the scheduled class hours of the course, is recorded on University records as a W.

Thereafter, in either case, a letter grade (A-F or I) must be issued. Exceptions for cause (e.g., illness) may be initiated by the dean of the school or college in which the student is matriculated or, in the case of a nonmatriculated student, the dean of the school or college offering the course involved.

Medical Leave and Medical-Related Course Withdrawal

Medical Leave is defined as an illness of such severity that the student can no longer attend classes, or should not have attended classes, for a particular semester or term.

Medical-Related Course Withdrawal is defined as an illness of sufficient severity as to make it necessary for the student to withdraw from one or more, but not all, courses for a particular semester or term.

Medical Leave during a Semester or Term. A student who needs a medical leave after the first 10 weeks of a semester or equivalent for a term may be granted W’s for all courses. To be granted a medical leave, the signatures of the dean of students (or designate) and the dean (or designate) of the college in which the student is matriculated are required.

Medical Leave after a Semester or Term. A student who requests a medical leave after the semester or term is completed and after grades have been issued must make such a request and provide medical documentation within 12 weeks after the semester or term in which the medical problem occurred. Students may only be granted W’s for registered courses for which grades, including I, NG, and NR, have been issued for the semester in question. Withdrawing from only some of the courses of that semester or term is not allowed. The signatures of the dean of students (or designate) and of the college dean (or designate) are required. In the case of a course taken in another college, the signature of the dean (or designate) of that college is required.

A student who was granted a medical leave and wants to return to the University must present medical documentation to the dean of students (or designate) indicating that the student is able to return. This documentation must also be presented to the dean (or designate) of the college in which the student is matriculated.

Medical-Related Course Withdrawals.

Students who wish to withdraw from one or more courses during the first 10 weeks of a semester, or equivalent for a term, may be granted W’s for those courses. To withdraw from any course for medical reasons, the signatures of the dean of students (or designate) and the dean (or designate) of the college in which the student is matriculated are required.

Students with an illness of sufficient severity as to make it necessary for them to withdraw from one or more courses from the 10th week of the semester, or equivalent for a term, to the end of classes may be granted designations of W, I, or a letter grade for those courses. In order to be granted a medical withdrawal and to receive a W on some or all courses, the signatures of the dean of students (or designate) and the dean (or designate) of the college in which the student is matriculated are required. In the case of a course taken in another college, the signature of the dean (or designate) of that college also is required. If a letter grade or an incomplete is to be granted for a course, the signature of the appropriate instructor must also be obtained.

Documentation. In order to grant a Medical Leave or allow a Medical-Related Course Withdrawal, documentation in writing must be received from a physician or mental health professional. The dean of students (or designate) and the dean (or designate) of the college in which the student is matriculated will review the documentation and agree on the appropriate action.

Signatures. When the student is unable to obtain the required signatures, the associate/ assistant dean (or designate) of the student’s college will obtain the required signatures. 

Incomplete Work

Under special conditions, individual graduate students may receive permission to complete the work of a course after the end of the semester. The graduate instructor is responsible for making such arrangements in line with the regulations of his or her department and school.

Courses Repeated

A course normally can be retaken only once, except when a course is designed to be taken repeatedly. For courses not designed to be taken repeatedly, a student may request permission from Academic Standing Committee (ASC) of the college offering the course to repeat a course a second time under the terms of the repeat course policy. An appeal to a college’s ASC may be made on the grounds of mitigating circumstances, and should include explanations of the circumstances, a description of their effect on performance, and discussion of the actions taken to minimize or eliminate these circumstances and their effects.

Approved transfer credits can be accepted to fulfill a program requirement, but the grades do not transfer in and will not affect the GPA. The original Hartford grade will still be included in the GPA calculation.

Audit Status

In order to register to audit many courses, laboratories, studios, and the like, students must first receive permission from the instructor. Auditors receive no grade and no academic credit. The special fees for adult-guest and special-audit status apply only if audit status is declared at the time of initial registration for the course. These fees do not apply if the student initially registers for credit and later changes to audit status.

A student is required to declare his or her intention to enroll on an audit basis at the time of registration for the course. An auditor may change a registration from audit to credit status if this request is made in writing on a Change of Program form within the first two weeks of the semester. Conversely, a student who wishes to change from credit to audit status must make this declaration in writing on a Change of Program form within the first 10 weeks of the semester. In summer sessions, an auditor may change a registration from audit to credit status during the first week of classes. A change from credit to audit status must be made before completion of the first 40 percent of the scheduled class hours of the course. The special fees for adult-guest and special-audit status apply only if audit status is declared at the time of initial registration for the course. These fees do not apply if the student initially registers for credit and later changes to audit status.

Requirements for Degrees

Fulfillment of graduation requirements is the student’s individual responsibility. No permission for deviation from the published requirements is official unless it is in writing and signed by the dean of the college or school.

General

• Degree application accompanied by graduation fee
• Satisfactory completion of one of the prescribed curricula
• Satisfactory completion of the residency requirement
• Payment of all outstanding fees
• Vote of faculty, trustees, and regents

Satisfactory Academic Progress and Good Academic Standing

Graduate students are expected to complete all requirements for their degrees within the time limits set by their program and to complete the fraction of course load specified by this unit as well. Satisfactory academic progress means that students are completing their degree requirements in an acceptable and timely manner as defined by their graduate program.

Students are said to be in good academic standing if they are completing in a timely and acceptable manner their course work, career experience, and cumulative event phases of their graduate training. Minimal GPA and times to complete other degree requirements are defined by the individual graduate programs. Final responsibility for knowing whether or not a student is making satisfactory academic progress and/or is in good academic standing rests with the student. Students who are not in good academic standing are ineligible to attend any credit classes at the University.

Application for Degree

No student is considered a degree candidate until he or she files a Degree Application form available from the registrar or from the school or college evaluator. Applications require the evaluator’s signature and must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the date announced. The date the student expects to complete degree requirements must be indicated on the application. Students who submit their applications for degree after the deadline may be omitted from the Commencement program and may have delays in the delivery of their diplomas.

Conferral of Degrees

Degrees are issued in September, January, and May. Commencement exercises are held in May, and a Fall Commencement ceremony is held in December. Students who complete their degree requirements in the summer term or the fall semester are invited to participate in the Fall Commencement program and, if they wish, may participate in the May Commencement as well. Students must file degree applications with the Registrar’s Office by the dates posted for each term in order to be awarded their degrees and to receive their diplomas. Students must also notify the registrar if they plan to attend the Fall Commencement or May Commencement ceremonies.

Diplomas will not be issued to persons either listed by the bursar as financially delinquent or required to complete federal loan exit counseling sessions.

Nonacademic Suspension and Expulsion

Students may be suspended or expelled from the University if found in violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Students who are suspended from the University must wait a minimum of one year prior to submitting an application for readmission or permission to enroll for study on a nonmatriculated basis. Students who are expelled from the University may not re-enroll. Students who are suspended or expelled must leave the campus as soon as possible after the action is announced.

Probation

Students whose cumulative GPA falls below departmental standards will be given a written warning by their program and may be subject to dismissal.  Students whose cumulative GPA falls below college standards will be placed on academic probation by their program. Students who do not meet the standards for course rate completion specified above will be reviewed by the academic standing committees of their colleges and may be placed on probation. Those who are placed on probation are eligible to continue to enroll at the University.

Students who are placed on probation should consult immediately with their graduate program directors to determine the actions necessary to correct the deficiencies.

The college academic standing committees will review the records of students who have been placed on probation. Students who have corrected the deficiencies will be removed from probation. If students have not corrected the deficiencies, the academic standing committees may continue them on probation, remove them from degree candidacy, or dismiss them from the University.

Removal from Degree Candidacy

Students whose performance in a degree program indicates that there is little probability of meeting that program’s minimum requirements may be removed from degree candidacy. Students who are removed from degree candidacy are eligible to attend classes on a part-time, nonmatriculated basis and may seek to matriculate in a degree program. Students who have been removed from degree candidacy are not considered to be making satisfactory academic progress but are considered to be in good academic standing.

Academic Dismissal

Students whose GPA and/or completion rate demonstrate that there is little probability of their meeting minimum requirements in a University degree program may be academically dismissed from the University. Students who are dismissed for academic reasons forfeit academic standing and are ineligible to continue in or return to the University.

Determination of Effective Catalog

A student’s course and departmental requirements for the degree are those stipulated in the Catalog of the year in which he or she is matriculated, or as modified by appropriate alternatives in subsequent years (the University reserves the right, at any time, to make whatever changes may be deemed necessary). A student may adopt the requirements of any subsequent Catalog during the period of residency, but may not elect to follow the requirements of any Catalog prior to initial matriculation.

Transcript of Academic Work

One unofficial transcript will be issued to each member of the graduating class after graduation. Additional transcripts may be requested online through the Self-Service Center via Parchment, which charges a separate processing fee. Requests for transcripts should be made a minimum of ten business days in advance. Official transcripts, bearing the University seal, are expected by most institutions and agencies to be sent directly by the University, not transmitted by the applicant.

Transcripts will not be issued for persons either listed by the bursar as financially delinquent or required to complete federal loan exit counseling sessions.

Applications for certifications and other records should be made in writing and addressed to

The Registrar
University of Hartford
Beatrice Fox Auerbach Center
200 Bloomfield Ave.
West Hartford, CT 06117

Applications should include correct remittance and should state the name and address of the official to whom the information is to be mailed.

Veteran Student Benefits, Academic Standing, and Prior Credit

The University of Hartford is approved to certify qualified veterans, and their dependents, to use their GI Bill® educational benefits while enrolled in an approved program. VA students should visit The GI Bill Comparison Tool (https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/) or ebenefits (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/homepage) for information on VA educational benefits or their remaining entitlement. VA students with questions regarding a claim should call 888-GI Bill-1 for information.

When a student using VA education benefits has been on probation for two consecutive semesters or has been suspended, the VA will be notified and certification for VA benefit payments will be discontinued in accordance with the law. Benefits will only be reinstated when the student is in good academic standing at the institution. VA students cannot be certified for an enrollment period during an appeal process, but if the VA student is successful in their appeal, they can be certified retroactively for the term.

The University of Hartford will evaluate credit for prior training on a case by case basis. Accepted and applicable credit for training outside of the University will be applied to the VA student’s transcript reducing the number of credit hours required to complete the program and potentially decreasing the duration of the program.

VA Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), the University adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA.  This school will not:

• Prevent the student from enrolling;
• Assess a late penalty fee;
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

• Provide Chapter 33 Certificate of Eligibility (or its equivalent) or for Chapter 31, VA VR&E’s contract with the school on VA Form 28-1905 by the first day of class. (Note: Chapter 33 students can register at the VA Regional Office to use E-Benefits to get the equivalent of a Chapter 33 Certificate of Eligibility. Chapter 31 students cannot get a completed VA Form 28-1905 (or any equivalent) before the VA VR&E case-manager issues it to the school.)
• Provide written request to be certified;
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.