University of North Carolina

Public university system in North Carolina

This article is about the 17-campus public university system in North Carolina. For the university commonly known as the "UNC" or "North Carolina", see University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For UNC Chapel Hill's athletic program, see North Carolina Tar Heels.

University of North Carolina

Type| Public university system
Established| 1789 (Chapel Hill)
1972 (current structure)
President| Peter Hans[1]
Governing body| UNC Board of Governors

Academic staff

| 13,564 (2008 fall)[2]

Administrative staff

| 30,664 (2008 fall)[2]
Students| 244,507 (2021 fall)[3]
Undergraduates| 191,517 (2021 fall)[3]
Postgraduates| 52,990 (2021 fall)[3]
Location|

Chapel Hill

North Carolina

United States

Campus| 17 campuses
Website| northcarolina.edu

App State

ECU

ECSU

FSU

NCSU

Asheville

UNC

Charlotte

Pembroke

Wilmington

WCU

class=notpageimage|

University of North Carolina System locations

* Durham – NC Central and NCSSM
* Greensboro – UNC Greensboro and NC A&T
* Winston-Salem – WSSU and UNCSA

The University of North Carolina is the public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referred to as the UNC System to differentiate it from its first campus, UNC-Chapel Hill.

The university system has a total enrollment of 244,507 students as of fall 2021.[3] UNC campuses conferred 62,930 degrees in 2020–2021, the bulk of which were at the bachelor's level, with 44,309 degrees awarded.[4] In 2008, the UNC System conferred over 75% of all baccalaureate degrees in North Carolina.[5][6]

## History

[edit]

### Foundations

[edit]

Founded in 1789, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (at the time called the University of North Carolina) is one of three schools to claim the title of oldest public university in the United States. It closed from 1871 to 1875, faced with serious financial and enrollment problems during the Reconstruction era. In 1877, the state of North Carolina began sponsoring additional higher education institutions. Over time, the state added a women's college (now known as the University of North Carolina at Greensboro), a land-grant university (North Carolina State University), five historically black institutions (North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Winston-Salem State University, Fayetteville State University, and Elizabeth City State University) and one to educate American Indians (the University of North Carolina at Pembroke). Others were created to prepare teachers for public education and to instruct performing artists.

### Initial Consolidation

[edit]

During the Great Depression, the North Carolina General Assembly searched for cost savings within state government. Towards this effort in 1931, it redefined the University of North Carolina, which at the time referred exclusively to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; the new Consolidated University of North Carolina was created to include the existing campuses of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State College (now North Carolina State University), and the Woman's College (now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro). The three campuses came under the leadership of a single board of trustees and a single president, with "Deans of Administration" serving as day-to-day leaders of the three campuses. In 1945, the title "Dean of Administration" was changed to "Chancellor". By 1969, three additional campuses had joined the Consolidated University through legislative action: the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

### 1971 to present

[edit]

In 1971, North Carolina passed legislation bringing into the University of North Carolina all 16 public institutions that confer bachelor's degrees. This latest round of consolidation gave each constituent school its own chancellor and board of trustees. In 1985, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, the nation's first public residential high school for gifted students, was declared an affiliated school of the university. In 2007, the high school became a full member of the university.[citation needed]

Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, the UNC system lowered its minimum ACT score for admission from 19 to 17.[7]

### Presidents

[edit]

For presiding professors of the University of North Carolina prior to 1804, see Leaders of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Original seal of the University of North Carolina c. 1791 Number  | Name  | Term

|
|

1  | Joseph Caldwell | 1804–1812
2  | Robert Hett Chapman | 1812–1816
\-  | Joseph Caldwell | 1816–1835
*  | Elisha Mitchell*  | 1835
3  | David Lowry Swain | 1835–1868
4  | Solomon Pool | 1869–1872
**  | Charles Phillips**  | 1875–1876
5  | Kemp Plummer Battle | 1876–1891
6  | George Tayloe Winston | 1891–1896
7  | Edwin Anderson Alderman | 1896–1900
8  | Francis Preston Venable | 1900–1914
9  | Edward Kidder Graham | 1914–1918
*  | Marvin Hendrix Stacy*  | 1918–1919
10  | Harry Woodburn Chase | 1919–1930
11  | Frank Porter Graham | 1930–1949
(UNC Consolidation in 1931)
*  | William Donald Carmichael, Jr. *  | 1949–1950
12  | Gordon Gray | 1950–1955
*  | J. Harris Purks*  | 1955–1956
13  | William Clyde Friday | 1956–1986
(acting until 1957)
14  | Clemmie Spangler | 1986–1997
15  | Molly Corbett Broad | 1997–2006
16  | Erskine Bowles | 2006–2011
17  | Thomas W. Ross | 2011–2016
*  | Junius J. Gonzales*  | 2016
18  | Margaret Spellings | 2016–2019
*  | William L. Roper*  | 2019–2020[8]
19  | Peter Hans | 2020–present[1]

An asterisk (*) denotes acting president. Two asterisks (**) denotes chairman of the faculty.

## Legal mandate

[edit]

UNC Charlotte. The university expanded significantly in the 1960s and 1970s.

The legal authority and mandate for the University of North Carolina is contained in the State's first Constitution (1776),[9] which provided in Article XLI

> That a school or schools shall be established by the Legislature, for the convenient instruction of youth, ... and all useful learning shall be duly encouraged, and promoted, in one or more universities,

The state legislature granted a charter and funding for the university in 1789.[10]

Article IX of the 1971 North Carolina Constitution deals with all forms of public education in the state. Sections 8 and 9 of that article address higher education.[11]

* Sec. 8. Higher education.

> The General Assembly shall maintain a public system of higher education, comprising The University of North Carolina and such other institutions of higher education as the General Assembly may deem wise. The General Assembly shall provide for the selection of trustees of The University of North Carolina and of the other institutions of higher education, in whom shall be vested all the privileges, rights, franchises, and endowments heretofore granted to or conferred upon the trustees of these institutions. The General Assembly may enact laws necessary and expedient for the maintenance and management of The University of North Carolina and the other public institutions of higher education.

* Sec. 9. Benefits of public institutions of higher education.

> The General Assembly shall provide that the benefits of The University of North Carolina and other public institutions of higher education, as far as practicable, be extended to the people of the State free of expense.

Statutory provisions stipulate the current function and cost to students of the University of North Carolina.[12]

## Institutions

[edit]

Within its seventeen campuses, UNC houses two medical schools and one teaching hospital, ten nursing programs, two schools of dentistry, one veterinary school and hospital, and a school of pharmacy, as well as a two law schools, 15 schools of education, three schools of engineering, and a school for performing artists.[5] The oldest university, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, first admitted students in 1795. The smallest and newest member is the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, a residential two-year high school, founded in 1980 and a full member of the university since 2007. The largest university is North Carolina State University, with 37,323 students as of fall 2023.

While the official names of each campus are determined by the North Carolina General Assembly, abbreviations are determined by the individual school.[13]

Official name
(Previous name) | Official abbrev.  | Location  | Enrollment
As of Fall 2023[14] | Carnegie Classification | Founded  | Athletics (Affiliation)  | Joined system  | Refs

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Appalachian State University
(Appalachian State Teacher's College, until 1967) | ASU,
App State
(for athletics)  | Boone, Watauga County | 21,253  | master's university | 1899  | Mountaineers (NCAA D-I, Sun Belt)  | 1972  | [15][16]
East Carolina University
(East Carolina College, until 1967) | ECU,
East Carolina
(for athletics)  | Greenville, Pitt County | 26,785  | doctoral/research university | 1907  | Pirates (NCAA D-I, American)  | 1972  | [17][18]
Elizabeth City State University
(Elizabeth City State College, until 1969) | ECSU  | Elizabeth City, Pasquotank County | 2,165  | baccalaureate college | 1891  | Vikings (NCAA D-II, CIAA)  | 1972  | [19][20]
Fayetteville State University
(Fayetteville State College, until 1969) | FSU  | Fayetteville, Cumberland County | 6,847  | master's university  | 1867  | Broncos (NCAA D-II, CIAA)  | 1972  | [21][22]
North Carolina A&T State University
(The Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina, until 1969) | NC A&T  | Greensboro, Guilford County | 13,885  | doctoral/research university  | 1891  | Aggies (NCAA D-I, CAA)  | 1972  | [23][24]
North Carolina Central University
(North Carolina College at Durham, until 1969) | NCCU,
NC Central
(for athletics)  | Durham, Durham County | 7,965  | master's university  | 1909  | Eagles (NCAA D-I, MEAC)  | 1972  | [25][26]
North Carolina State University
(North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering, until 1963) | NCSU,
NC State or State
(for athletics)  | Raleigh, Wake County | 37,323  | doctoral/research university  | 1887  | Wolfpack (NCAA D-I, ACC)  | 1932  | [27][28]
University of North Carolina at Asheville
(Asheville-Biltmore College until 1969) | UNCA or
Asheville  | Asheville, Buncombe County | 2,925  | baccalaureate college  | 1927  | Bulldogs (NCAA D-I, Big South)  | 1969  | [29][30]
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
(University of North Carolina, until 1963) | UNC-Chapel Hill,[31][32]
UNC-CH, North Carolina, or Carolina
(for athletics)  | Chapel Hill, Orange County | 32,234  | doctoral/research university  | 1789  | Tar Heels (NCAA D-I, ACC)  | 1932  | [33][34]
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
(Charlotte College, until 1965) | UNC Charlotte,
Charlotte
(for athletics)  | Charlotte, Mecklenburg County | 30,298  | doctoral/research university  | 1946  | 49ers (NCAA D-I, American)  | 1965  | [35][36]
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
(The Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, until 1963) | UNCG  | Greensboro, Guilford County | 17,743  | doctoral/research university  | 1891  | Spartans (NCAA D-I, SoCon)  | 1932  | [37][38]
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
(Pembroke State University, until 1996) | UNCP  | Pembroke, Robeson County | 7,630  | master's university  | 1887  | Braves[39] (NCAA D-II, Carolinas)  | 1972  | [40][41]
University of North Carolina Wilmington
(Wilmington College, until 1969) | UNCW  | Wilmington, New Hanover County | 17,987  | doctoral/research university  | 1947  | Seahawks (NCAA D-I, CAA)  | 1969  | [42][43]
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
(North Carolina School of the Arts, until 2008) | UNCSA  | Winston-Salem, Forsyth County | 1,074  | special-focus institution | 1963  | The Fighting Pickle (N/A)  | 1972  | [44][45]
Western Carolina University
(Western Carolina College, until 1967) | WCU,
Western Carolina
(for athletics)  | Cullowhee, Jackson County | 11,628  | master's university  | 1889  | Catamounts (NCAA D-I, SoCon)  | 1972  | [46][47]
Winston-Salem State University
(Winston-Salem Teacher's College, until 1969) | WSSU  | Winston-Salem, Forsyth County | 4,776  | baccalaureate college  | 1892  | Rams (NCAA D-II, CIAA)  | 1972  | [48][49]
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics | NCSSM  | Durham, Durham County

Morganton, Burke County | 980  | residential high school | 1980  | Unicorns (Durham) & Dragons (Morganton) (NCHSAA)  | 2007  | [50][51]

### Notes

[edit]

The enrollment numbers are the official headcounts (including all full-time and part-time, undergrad and postgrad students) from University of North Carolina website.[52] This does not include the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics; the figure for NCSSM is taken from its own website.[53]

The following universities became four-year institutions after their founding (date each became a four-year institution in parentheses):[citation needed]

* East Carolina University (1920)
* North Carolina Central University (1925)
* Winston-Salem State University (1925)
* Western Carolina University (1929)
* Appalachian State University (1929)
* Elizabeth City State University (1937)
* University of North Carolina at Pembroke (1939)
* Fayetteville State University (1939)
* University of North Carolina at Asheville (1963)
* University of North Carolina at Charlotte (1963)
* University of North Carolina at Wilmington (1963)

With the exception of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the institutions that joined the University of North Carolina in 1972 did so under their current name. As of 1972, all public four-year institutions in North Carolina are members of the university.[citation needed]

## Affiliates

[edit]

Name  | Location  | Founded

|
|

North Carolina Arboretum | Asheville, Buncombe County | 1989
North Carolina Center for International Understanding  | Raleigh, Wake County |
North Carolina Center for Nursing  | Raleigh, Wake County |
North Carolina State Approving Agency  | Raleigh, Wake County |
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority  | Raleigh, Wake County |
UNC Center for Public Media (PBS NC) | Research Triangle Park, Durham County | 1955
UNC Faculty Assembly  | Chapel Hill, Orange County |
University of North Carolina Press | Chapel Hill, Orange County | 1922
UNC Staff Assembly  | Chapel Hill, Orange County |

## See also

[edit]

* List of colleges and universities in North Carolina
* North Carolina Community College System

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Seltzer, Rick (June 22, 2020). "UNC System Names New President". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
2. ^ a b "UNC Employees" (PDF). UNC System. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
3. ^ a b c d "Enrollment Measure: Student Count". UNC Data Dashboard. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
4. ^ "Stats, Data, & Reports". UNC System. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
5. ^ a b "University Facts". University of North Carolina. January 10, 2008. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
6. ^ "About UNC". UNC General Administration. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
7. ^ Brown, David (May 14, 2025). "Let's try to figure out what's best". Cherokee Scout. Murphy, N.C.: Community Newspapers Inc. p. 4A. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
8. ^ "UNC Health CEO, William Roper, named interim president of UNC system". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. November 1, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
9. ^ "Constitution of North Carolina: December 18, 1776". avalon.law.yale.edu. December 18, 1998. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
10. ^ "About the University". unc.edu. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
11. ^ "Article IX". North Carolina Constitution. North Carolina General Assembly. 2006. Archived from the original on September 1, 2008. Retrieved June 9, 2008.
12. ^ "Chapter 116 – Higher Education". North Carolina General Statutes. North Carolina General Assembly. 2006. Retrieved March 29, 2008.
13. ^ Wootson, Cleve R. Jr. (January 8, 2002). "UNC Leaders Want Abbreviation Change". The Daily Tar Heel. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2008.
14. ^ "Enrollment by Institution". myinsight.northcarolina.edu. University of North Carolina. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
15. ^ "Appalachian State University" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
16. ^ "Appalachian State University" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
17. ^ "East Carolina University" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
18. ^ "East Carolina University" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
19. ^ "Elizabeth City State University" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
20. ^ "Elizabeth City State University" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
21. ^ "Fayetteville State University" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
22. ^ "Fayetteville State University" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
23. ^ "North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
24. ^ "North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
25. ^ "North Carolina Central University" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
26. ^ "North Carolina Central University" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
27. ^ "North Carolina State University" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
28. ^ "North Carolina State University" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
29. ^ "University of North Carolina at Asheville" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
30. ^ "University of North Carolina at Asheville" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
31. ^ "UNC Leaders Want Abbreviation Change". The Daily Tar Heel. January 8, 2002. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
32. ^ Oh, Four Oh Four[permanent dead link]. Media.www.dailytarheel.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-29.
33. ^ "University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
34. ^ "University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
35. ^ "University of North Carolina at Charlotte" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
36. ^ "University of North Carolina at Charlotte" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
37. ^ "University of North Carolina at Greensboro" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
38. ^ "University of North Carolina at Greensboro" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
39. ^ "UNC Pembroke". Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
40. ^ "University of North Carolina at Pembroke" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
41. ^ "University of North Carolina at Pembroke" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
42. ^ "University of North Carolina at Wilmington" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
43. ^ "University of North Carolina at Wilmington" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
44. ^ "North Carolina School of the Arts" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
45. ^ "North Carolina School of the Arts" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
46. ^ "Western Carolina University" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
47. ^ "Western Carolina University" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
48. ^ "Winston-Salem State University" (PDF). Institutional Profiles. University of North Carolina. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
49. ^ "Winston-Salem State University" (PDF). Carnegie Classifications. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
50. ^ "North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics". Retrieved March 29, 2008.
51. ^ "NCSSM Fast Facts". North Carolina School of Science and Math. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved August 14, 2010.
52. ^ "University of North Carolina Facts". Archived from the original on May 27, 2010.
53. ^ "North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Facts". Archived from the original on September 19, 2008.

## Further reading

[edit]

* McGrath, Eileen, and Linda Jacobson. "The Great Depression and Its Impact on an Emerging Research Library: The University of North Carolina Library, 1929–1941", Libraries and the Cultural Record, (2011), 46#3 pp 295–320.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to University of North Carolina system.

Wikisource has the text of a 1905 New International Encyclopedia article about "University of North Carolina".

* "North Carolina, University of" . Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.

* v
* t
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University of North Carolina system

Universities|

* Appalachian State
* East Carolina
* Elizabeth City State
* Fayetteville State
* NC A&T
* NC Central
* NC State
* UNC Asheville
* UNC–Chapel Hill
* UNC Charlotte
* UNC Greensboro
* UNC Pembroke
* UNC School of the Arts
* UNC Wilmington
* Western Carolina
* Winston-Salem State

High school|

* NC School of Science and Mathematics

Affiliates|

* NC Arboretum
* NC Research Campus
* NCCIU
* NCCN
* NCSAA
* NCSEAA
* UNC Center for Public Television
* UNC Press

Administration|

* History
* Legal Mandate
* Structure
* Presidents
* Speaker Ban

Authority control databases

International|

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National|

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35°54′31″N 79°2′57″W﻿ / ﻿35.90861°N 79.04917°W﻿ / 35.90861; -79.04917
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