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| 2008 - 2009 Catalog |
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| 2008 - 2009 Catalog |
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Admission is defined as permission to enroll in courses for academic credit. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to a specific major or academic discipline. Applicants may be admitted as undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate and may be either degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking. Transient students may only be admitted as non-degree-seeking. For admission purposes, students are categorized as "new" or "former". These classifications are defined as follows:
ADMISSION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The current application processing fees are as follows:
New students, who do not enroll for classes, are eligible to update their application status within three semesters from the original semester of application. In order to update to a new semester, applicants should submit an Application Update Form. This form can be found on the admissions Web site. Documentation for Admission from U.S. Institutions All documents submitted to meet admissions requirements must be official and have regional accreditation (see Accredited Institutions). Official transcripts must be mailed directly from the former institution(s) to the Office of Admissions. Hand-delivered transcripts will only be accepted as official if they have been printed within the past 60 days and are submitted in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution. Unofficial transcripts, student copies of transcripts, or transfer work shown on transcripts (other than that taken at the issuing institution for resident credit) will not be accepted as an official record of course work. The Office of Admissions must receive all documents by the appropriate deadlines. Applicants to the University of Houston-Clear Lake, who are concurrently enrolled at another institution, must submit a current paid fee statement from that institution's records office. An official transcript should be sent to the Office of Admissions once these grades have been posted. If an applicant knowingly withholds information or submits fraudulent information regarding enrollment at another collegiate institution, his or her application at UHCL will be considered invalid and the student may be administratively withdrawn from classes without a refund of fees paid. Documentation for Admission from International Institutions International students must provide the Office of Admissions with official transcripts, mark (grade) sheets and confirmation of degrees or diplomas for all academic studies attempted at other colleges/universities, prior to enrollment. All students should provide official transcripts and/or mark sheets in the original language and an English translation, if appropriate, describing all academic studies attempted and completed. This information must be received before the final evaluation can proceed. Transcripts should clearly indicate the dates of attendance, the subjects and the marks (grades) earned. They should also reflect any degrees or diplomas awarded. Official transcripts are to be issued and forwarded directly to the University of Houston-Clear Lake by the registrar, principal or responsible head of each institution attended. When this is not possible, documents certified by an embassy or consular official as true copies may be accepted. Uncertified copies are not acceptable. The university makes a reasonable determination of those courses completed outside of the United States. However, if requested by a specific school, an international student(s) may be required to have an evaluation performed. This evaluation must be performed by an approved, outside agency and is used to determine accurate course equivalencies. An evaluation of this type will occur at the student's expense. Developmental or Remedial Course work In calculating admissibility, developmental or remedial course work will not be accepted for transfer purposes and will not count toward meeting the 54 semester credit hours required for general admission or the 45 semester credit hour requirement for concurrent enrollment. If courses have been repeated, only the last attempt will be considered in determining admission requirements. Accordingly, if the last grade earned on a repeated course is "F", that course will not be counted toward meeting the admission requirements. If a passing grade was earned on an earlier attempt, it will not be counted towards meeting the admissions requirements. All transcripts submitted for admission purposes, must be from a regionally accredited institution. An acceptable accredited institution is a college or university which has received accreditation from one of the following recognized regional accrediting commissions: New England Association of Colleges and Schools, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or the Western Association of Colleges and Schools. Proprietary, vocational-technical, bible and other specialized, single-purpose institutions that are not recognized by a regional accrediting agency are excluded. Credits earned prior to an institution receiving regional accreditation are excluded. Records from other institutions are held for a period of five years; therefore, former students who have not enrolled during the past five years must file a new application and resubmit transcripts and other documentation required for admission. Encumbrance Holds or Service Indicators An encumbrance hold will prevent a student from registering for the next enrollment term until all required transcripts, test scores or other items are received. Failure to provide official documents will activate holds that will hinder future registration attempts and stop the release of records, including UHCL transcripts. Encumbrances may vary by restriction and type and may also be placed by other offices or departments. The university assigned campus e-mail is the official communication vehicle for all student information and exchanges among academic administrative offices. It is the student's responsibility to check their e-mail regularly. Upon receipt of supporting documentation, the Office of Admissions will determine the eligibility of applicants for admission to the university and will notify applicants of this determination. Upon acceptance, applicants will receive information regarding additional procedures to be followed prior to registration. Notification of acceptance to a specific plan or academic program will come from individual departments within academic schools. Applicants with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) below requirements may request an individual review of their application. The request for individual review must be accompanied by a personal statement providing the reasons for past academic performance, plans to ensure future success and factors such as extracurricular activities, employment history, leadership skills or other information relevant to the admission decision. A complete application packet must be on file for consideration. Acceptance into a Degree Program The acceptance of a student into a degree program is determined by the admission standards of each academic school or department. Credits earned at the University of Houston-Clear Lake do not automatically count towards the completion of a degree program, until the CPS has been completed and signed by the student and an appropriate department representative. UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Undergraduate applicants seeking admission to the University of Houston-Clear Lake, as degree-seeking students, must have and meet the following requirements:
All applicants:
*For purposes of transfer GPA calculations, plus and minus grade designations are not used (C- is computed as a C, B- as a B, etc.). Grades received for developmental course work are not included in the transfer GPA calculation. **Applicants to the School of Human Sciences and Humanities (HSH) must have completed three semester credit hours of College Mathematics for Liberal Arts, College Algebra or a higher mathematics course. Applicants seeking admission through the Early Admissions Option must be currently enrolled in the appropriate number of course credits that, when added to their completed course work with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, total the 54 semester hours of college credit required. English Composition I must be completed with at least a C- or better; however, the English Composition II or Technical Writing requirement may be in progress at the time of admission. The final grade of at least C- must be earned and submitted prior to the start of classes. Applicants enrolling as Early Admits, who are degree-seeking, must submit official transcripts from each regionally accredited institution attended. Those choosing a non-degree-seeking status must submit only those official transcript(s) necessary to show that admissions requirements have been met as well as the official transcript from the last institution they attended. Concurrent Enrollment (non-degree-seeking) Applicants, who have not earned 54 semester credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, may be admitted, if all of the following requirements are met:
Concurrent enrollment students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor in the department of their major, prior to registering for classes. Students wishing to enroll in lower-level classes, while attending the University of Houston-Clear Lake, are encouraged to enroll for these classes at a community college within commuting range of the university. Concurrent enrollment students must remain in good academic standing at UHCL; those who fall below a grade point average of 2.0, will be placed on academic probation at UHCL and will have an encumbrance hold placed on their record to block any further registration. Concurrent enrollment students are not eligible for financial aid and are limited to a total of 12 semester credit hours of enrollment at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Once a concurrent enrollment student meets general admission requirements, he or she must submit a new application for admissions and verify that all official documents have been received. The application fee is not assessed to concurrent enrollment students who reapply as degree-seeking. A post-baccalaureate student has earned a bachelor's degree and wishes to enroll in additional course work at the undergraduate level. These students may not enroll in graduate course work, except under provisions that specifically authorize undergraduate enrollment in graduate courses. A student may complete a teacher certification program, with or without earning a graduate degree. Those who plan to complete a teacher certification program, without completing a graduate degree, should enroll in the post-baccalaureate status. Undergraduate Transient Student Enrollment (non-degree-seeking) An undergraduate student who enrolls at the University of Houston-Clear Lake as a transient will not be required to meet the English composition or mathematics admission requirements. However, all other admission criteria must be met. Enrollment under this option is limited to one semester only and transient students are not eligible to receive financial aid. Because the application processing fee is non-refundable, students should obtain permission from the associate dean of the appropriate academic department offering the course(s) of interest, before applying as a transient. Undergraduate transient students are exempt from the TSI only if they meet all five of the following requirements:
Summer Transient Student Enrollment (non-degree-seeking) Applicants enrolling as a transient in a summer session(s) must meet the following requirements:
Admission as a summer transient is limited to six semester credit hours and terminates at the end of the summer sessions. If a student chooses to become degree-seeking, at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, he or she must meet general admission requirements, reapply and pay a new application processing fee (see Undergraduate Admission Requirements). Unilink is a program that enables community college students to experience university life while still enrolled as freshmen and sophomores at a community college. The benefits include a signed combined community college and University of Houston-Clear Lake degree plan under the current UHCL catalog and participation in many UHCL campus activities. Many other benefits are outlined in the program guide. To be eligible to participate students must:
For more information about Unilink, contact an Enrollment Management Counselor in the Office of Admissions at 281-283-2500. READMISSION OR STATUS CHANGE PROCESS Former students seeking readmission should submit the following:
Students who graduate from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and wish to enroll in additional course work must complete a new application and submit the appropriate application fee. Former students may be required to resubmit documents from other institution for consideration of readmission, if those items are no longer on file. A former graduate student, pursuing a degree in a new program may be required to take a different graduate examination prior to admission into that academic program. Students who leave the university on academic probation will be readmitted on probation. A degree-seeking student whose permission to register was terminated, due to academic deficiency, must be reinstated by the appropriate dean prior to readmission; non-degree seeking students may be reinstated by the associate vice president of academic affairs. To change academic careers from undergraduate to graduate or to change from non-degree seeking to degree-seeking, enrolled students must submit a new application for admission and meet the appropriate admission criteria. STUDENT QUALIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT INFORMATION Under Academic Fresh start, applicants for undergraduate admission may request that an institution of higher education disregard previous academic course work taken at an institution of higher education. This option allows institutions to exclude grades that students earned 10 or more years prior to the start of their initial semester of attendance. If Academic Fresh Start is elected, all courses taken prior to that time must be excluded; requests for partial exclusions will not be considered. Students requesting admission under this option must be Texas residents for the purpose of tuition and fees. Consequently, if Academic Fresh Start applicants obtain a degree and apply for admission to a post-graduate or professional school, only the grade point average earned after the Academic Fresh Start may be considered (along with other criteria the institution uses) to evaluate admission. Academic Fresh Start can be used for undergraduate admission purposes only. Once a student is enrolled, requests for this consideration are not accepted; and, once Academic Fresh Start is elected, it may not be revoked. Courses ignored, due to invoking Academic Fresh Start, must be retaken if required to qualify for admission or to be used as prerequisites for upper-level course work. However, students who were originally exempt from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) because of hours completed prior to fall 1989 and have now chosen to ignore those hours by enrolling under Academic Fresh Start are still TSI exempt. In order to enroll under this option, students must meet with an Enrollment Management Counselor, provide a written request of their intention to enroll under Academic Fresh Start and sign the Academic Fresh Start Acknowledgement Form. Assessment of General Education Core Competencies Entering undergraduates (first bachelor's degree candidates) are required to participate in an assessment of core competencies (e.g. reading, critical thinking and mathematics) developed in the general education curriculum. The test results will provide UHCL with specific information for continuous improvement in teaching and learning. UHCL will accept Credit by examination (CLEP) only if it has been posted to a student's transcript at another regionally accredited institution of higher education. UHCL will accept CLEP for the following purposes:
If approved, up to 18 hours of correspondence, extension course work or CLEP may be applied as lower-level credit toward graduation. No more than three hours in history and government may be earned through CLEP. The University of Houston-Clear Lake will accept credit earned through CLEP for upper-level work, but each academic school or department at UHCL will determine whether CLEP credit can be accepted by the university and applied toward their specific degree requirements. Texas Success Initiative (formerly THEA) The Texas State Education Code requires the assessment of all students in the areas of reading, writing and mathematics skills upon their initial entry into a Texas institution of higher education. An applicant's performance on this test will affect admissibility to the University of Houston-Clear Lake and all other Texas upper-level universities. To give Texas public higher education more flexibility in their efforts to develop better academic skills among students who need them for success in college, the 78th Texas Legislature repealed the Texas Academic Skill Program (TASP) and replaced it with the Texas Success Initiative (Texas Education Code 51.3062). Transfer students who have attended a public institution of higher education in Texas must have completed the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirement prior to enrolling in upper-level courses. Entering students, from other Texas public institutions, must have already satisfied these requirements or may have previously been exempted. Students entering from out-of-state or private institutions may satisfy TSI requirements based on a review of specific course work as determined by the Office of Admissions. All students must meet TSI requirements. If the THEA/TASP exam is taken, all sections must be passed, prior to admission. The approved assessment tests for TSI are: THEA (formerly TASP), ASSET, COMPASS, and ACCUPLACER examinations. The minimum passing scores for each of these tests are set by the state; however, each institution may establish its own score requirements at or above these minimums. The minimum passing scores are:
The minimum passing standard for the essay portions of these tests is a score of 6. However, an essay with a score of 5 is considered passing, if a student meets the objective writing test standard. A student may receive an exemption from the TSI requirement through examinations, degree status or course work. They may qualify as follows:
An exemption from the TSI requirement is not automatic. Documentation of exemption qualification is required. Applicants may be required to provide test scores, transcripts, military documents or other appropriate documents to be considered for a TSI exemption. TOEFL or IELTS Examination for Non-U.S. Citizens All students, regardless of immigration status, who are citizens of countries where English is not the native language must demonstrate English proficiency. These students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) prior to admission. US citizens who were educated in countries where English is not the native language may also be required to demonstrate English proficiency. For more information on score requirements and waivers, please refer to the Language Proficiency Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizens in the International Admissions section of this catalog. Transfer of Undergraduate Credit As an upper-level institution, the University of Houston-Clear Lake does not instruct students at the freshman or sophomore level; therefore, we cannot equate lower-level courses from other institutions to courses offered at UHCL. However, UHCL can:
Transfer disputes, as defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, may arise when a lower-level course is not accepted for credit by a Texas institution of higher education. Any dispute between institutions involving transfer of lower-level credit will be handled according to the guidelines and procedures established by the Coordinating Board. A copy of the Coordinating Board guidelines may be obtained in the Office of the Provost or on line at www.uhcl.edu/provost. The Office of Admissions evaluates non-traditional learning experiences after receiving appropriate supporting credentials and petitions from students. Credit is recognized only for non-traditional learning experiences as described in the American Council on Education (ACE) publication. ACE recommendations are followed as closely as possible in considering the amount, level and type of credit to be recognized. Recognized non-traditional credits will be treated as transfer credit and may be considered for admission. In some academic degree programs, these credits may not be accepted. Previous work, because of its nature and not its inherent quality, may be determined to have no applicability to specific degrees sought by students. This determination is made within each school. The University of Houston-Clear Lake has developed a series of articulation agreements with community colleges in the Houston area. The transfer plans are meant as guides to recommended course work at these colleges that will aid students as they transfer into programs at UHCL. Students who plan to attend, or who are currently attending, one of the following colleges are encouraged to work closely with the counseling offices at these institutions as they prepare to transfer. Articulation guides may be obtained at each of these locations:
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS Applicants who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher from an approved regionally accredited institution and who are eligible to return to the last institution attended will be considered for admission to graduate studies. Admission to the university does not ensure admission to degree candidacy in an academic discipline; separate admission criteria must be met within each school. All applicants for graduate admission must present documented evidence that they meet the appropriate admission requirements. International students have special documentation requirements (see Documentation for Admission from International Institutions). Applicants seeking admission to a graduate program must:
If the applicant is degree-seeking:
Transcripts should reach the Office of Admissions by the published deadlines for the semester in which the student plans to enroll. If documentation is not received by this time; or, if the documentation indicates that admission requirements have not been met, an encumbrance hold will be placed on the student's record (see Encumbrance Holds). Applicants with pending bachelor degrees Students applying to a graduate program, prior to receipt of a bachelor's degree, must submit official documentation that their application for graduation has not been denied. A letter of standing from the associate dean or registrar at their home institution is required. Students must earn their bachelor's degree prior to enrollment at UHCL. Graduate Non-degree Applicants Graduate non-degree students are those who wish to enroll for reasons other than the pursuit of a degree. Students wishing to enroll in a graduate non-degree-seeking status must submit an official transcript from the last institution attended and an official transcript showing the highest degree conferred. Credits earned in a non-degree status will not automatically be applicable to a specific academic degree program and some courses are restricted to only degree-seeking students. Additionally, some academic departments limit the number of hours that can be taken in a non-degree status and applied to a Candidate Plan of Study (CPS). Non-degree-seeking students planning to enroll in School of Business graduate course work must have permission from the associate dean or his/her designee, prior to registering for classes. For specific policies regarding course availability and application, please refer to the appropriate academic program's section of this catalog. Graduate students may be admitted to the University of Houston-Clear Lake as transients for one semester. Students applying as transients generally plan to transfer course work to another institution. These students must submit official transcripts showing proof that a bachelor's degree or higher has been conferred. Students enrolling under this option, who decide to become degree-seeking, are required to reapply and pay the appropriate application fee. They must meet the university's and their academic program's current admission requirements (see Graduate Studies Applicants). An applicant for teacher certification, who does not plan to pursue a graduate degree, should apply as a post-baccalaureate student. Graduate Transfer Credit Information Master's degree plans (programs) require a minimum of 30 semester hours; at least the final 24 semester hours must be resident credits earned at UHCL. The possibility of transferring credit toward a master's degree is limited to no more than 12 semester credit hours and in most instances may not exceed six semester credit hours. The Doctoral degree plan (program) requires a minimum of 69 hours beyond the master's degree. The possibility of transferring credit toward the doctoral degree is limited to no more than 21 hours and in most instances may not exceed 12 semester credit hours. Previously earned graduate credits are not necessarily applicable:
Graduate Application Deadlines Fall - August 1 Spring - December 1 Summer - May 1 Human Sciences and Humanities (non-clinical) Fall - August 1 Spring - December 1 Summer - May 1 Human Sciences and Humanities (Clinical Programs) Clinical Psychology, Family Therapy, School of Psychology (Both university and program applications are required) December 10th through January 25th (Both university and program applications are required) Fall - June 1 Spring - October 1 Summer - March 1 Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Ed.D March 15 - Fall admission only (Both university and program applications are required) Examinations for Graduate Candidacies All new graduate students must provide standardized test results for the GRE, GMAT or MAT examinations to the Office of Admissions as required by their academic program (score requirements for specific colleges and academic plans are found in the appropriate school's section of this catalog). Former students, who did not previously submit graduate scores, must submit the appropriate scores prior to re-enrollment. A former student, pursuing a degree in a new academic area or program, may be required to take a different graduate examination prior to being admitted. Scores must be received directly from the testing agency. Hand-carried or student copies of score results or those that are more than 5 years old (at the time of admission) will not be accepted. If a test is not required by a specific school or program before admission to the university, students may be permitted to register for classes on a conditional basis. However, students are required to submit the appropriate examination scores upon enrollment or an encumbrance hold will be placed on their records. Students enrolling in a non-degree-seeking status are exempt from the standardized test requirement; however, they are required to meet current admissions requirements before changing to a degree-seeking status.
Telephone Numbers and Information GRE, GMAT and MAT test center information is listed below. For more specific examination requirements by college, plan and major, please refer to the appropriate school's section of this catalog.
Select code by program of interest as follows:
Undergraduate and Graduate International Applicants The application deadline dates for international applicants are as follows: Spring October 1 Summer March 1 Fall June 1 Undergraduate international students must meet general admission requirements as noted in this catalog in addition to the following:
Please note: International students submitting foreign documents must follow UHCL procedures for the submission of this documentation (see Documentation for Admission from International Institutions) International students, holding F-1 visa status are not eligible to apply for admission in a non-degree-seeking status. They must apply as degree-seeking students in a specified degree plan or program. Language Proficiency Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizens All students, regardless of immigration status, who are citizens of countries where English is not the native language must demonstrate English proficiency. These students must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) prior to admission. Students must submit a minimum score of 550 on the paper examination, with section scores of 50 or higher. A TOEFL score of 213 is the minimum requirement for computer-based tests. For students who choose to take the (IELTS) exam in lieu of the TOEFL, the minimum overall score is 6.0 or higher band. On the new iBT TOEFL test a score of 79 - 80 is required. Score reports may not be more than two years old at the time of admission. Only official scores will be accepted. Procedure to Apply for English Proficiency Waiver A TOEFL exemption may apply, if at least one of the following requirements is met:
* A applicant whose native language is not English, but who has earned a bachelor's degree or higher form an English-speaking country, may request consideration for a TOEFL waiver. Applicants requesting a waiver of the TOEFL or IELTS examination must submit a petition in writing, with supporting documentation, to the Office of Admissions a minimum of 30 days prior to the term in which they wish to enroll. The appropriate action will be taken only when full documentation is provided. Co-Enrollment (International Students) International students seeking undergraduate degrees at the University of Houston-Clear Lake may obtain an International Student Advisor's permission to co-enroll at another institution. A concurrent enrollment letter must be obtained from a UHCL international advisor prior to registration in the appropriate school/department of concurrent enrollment. Proof of payment for concurrent enrollment at another institution of higher education must be provided to a UHCL international advisor for the current semester. Undergraduate applicants who lack no more than nine semester credit hours of lower-level core curriculum or foundation courses may transfer to the University of Houston-Clear Lake. These students may co-enroll at UHCL and another institution to complete the lower-level core or foundation requirements. In all cases, students must maintain full-time status and must enroll for at least three semester credit hours at UHCL. The Department of Homeland Security stipulates that no more than three credit hours of on-line courses per semester may be counted towards full-time enrollment for F and J student visa holders. All international students are required to have health insurance, including medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. The University provides such insurance and automatically adds the premium to applicable tuition/fee statements. International students who have health coverage comparable to the UHCL coverage, through a private insurance company, can waive the University coverage. Students must complete a waiver form and provide proof of insurance to the Office of Admissions (the university may request additional information as needed to verify appropriate coverage). Students may mail or fax coverage information to the attention of International Admissions. Please allow 3-5 working days to process the waiver request. Health insurance waiver requests will be accepted until the census date (12th class day for spring and fall semesters; 4th class date for summer terms) of the semester in which the student plans to enroll. Requests for waivers or refunds after the census date will not be considered. UNIVERSITY POLICY REGARDING DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY The university reserves the right to reject any applicant whose record does not indicate potential success at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, notwithstanding the completion of other requirements. The university also reserves the right to further evaluate any applicant by using psychological, achievement and/or aptitude tests and personal interviews. Additionally, the university reserves the right to reject any applicant who falsifies information that is submitted for admission consideration or used to determine admissibility to the university. Readmission may be denied to any former student who has falsified university documents or who has used a university official's signature inappropriately, for personal benefit or gain. The University of Houston-Clear Lake is committed to providing the most appropriate and effective academic direction, assistance and support for all students. At UHCL, the function of academic advising is provided directly through the four schools: Human Sciences and Humanities, Science and Computer Engineering, Business, and Education. Matters affecting degree requirements and graduation are best handled by professional advising staff and faculty working directly within the individual academic areas. Each school within UHCL has developed unique advising procedures to best serve the needs of its students. The relationship between student and advisor provides the opportunity to learn more about educational choices and objectives, degree requirements, academic policies and procedures, and university resources. All students are strongly urged to contact their academic advisor prior to registering for their first semester at UHCL. Ultimately, the student is responsible for seeking adequate academic advice, knowing and following degree requirements, noting and meeting important academic deadlines, and enrolling in appropriate courses to ensure timely progress toward a degree. A successful academic experience hinges on partnership and communication shared by the student and the advisors. What you can expect from your advisor:
What is expected of you as a student:
How to Prepare for a Meeting with Your Advisor
Become familiar with the advising process in your chosen school. Make sure your advisor has your most current contact information. Plan ahead and ask questions so your academic progress, decision-making and attainment of your university degree can be achieved with utmost success.
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