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General Academic Information

General Academic Information


Academic Honors

Academic Load

Transcript Evaluation

Academic Standards of Progress

Cancellation of Previous Academic Record

Class Attendance Policy

Final Grades and Records

Grade Appeal Process

Applicable Catalog

Recency of Credit

Graduation Honors

Semester Credit Hour

Semester System

Grade Forgiveness Policy

Maximum Attempts Per Course

Course Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Student Ombudsman

Academic Standards Committee

Academic Honesty

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Broward Community College Catalog 2007-2008 www.broward.edu 81


General Academic Information
General Academic Information

Academic Honors Transcript Evaluation


The College recognizes exceptional scholastic Transfer students must provide official transcripts
achievement at the end of each regular term and from all previously attended colleges or
posts them to transcripts and grade reports. universities. Transcripts should be sent to
Broward Community College, College Registrar’s
The President's List includes the names of Office, 225 East Las Olas Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale,
students carrying 12 or more semester hours who FL 33301, prior to or within 30 days of the start
have a grade point average of 4.0. of the initial term of enrollment. Students who
have completed post-secondary work outside of
The Dean's List includes the names of students the United States are required to provide a
carrying 12 or more semester hours who have a commercial evaluation of all course work
grade point average of 3.50 to 3.99. completed. An official evaluation of credit
courses’ transferability is made after the student is
The Honor Roll includes the names of students admitted to the College. All official transcripts
carrying 12 or more semester hours who have a from previously attended institutions must be
grade point average of 3.25 to 3.49. received before an official evaluation is considered
completed. Transfer credits may be accepted
Academic Load from regionally accredited colleges or universities
To be considered full-time, students must carry a and/or from institutions belonging to the Florida
minimum load of 12 semester hours per academic State Common Course Numbering System or
term or an equivalent number of clock hours for from out-of-country universities when commercial
an educational program using clock hours. evaluations of those transcripts are provided. In
Usually, the Offices of Social Security, Railroad some instances, transferability of credits is done
Retirement, and Veterans Administration consider on a course-by-course analysis.
12 credit hours to be a full load.
Previously earned credits and grades may transfer
The maximum load that may normally be carried in, but may not be accepted for a specific degree
is 18 credit hours per academic term or an program. All grades from other colleges are
equivalent number of clock hours. However, computed in the cumulative grade point average at
students who earn a grade point average of 3.2 or BCC, including failing grades at previous colleges.
above may carry an extra course, but in no event Failure to report previous college-level work
shall the maximum load exceed 21 credit hours attempted constitutes a falsification of application
per academic term or an equivalent number of and subjects the applicant to loss of all credit
clock hours. The maximum load for a six-week earned and may result in dismissal.
summer session is nine credit hours or an
equivalent number of clock hours. The normal An applicant who was not in good standing at the
load for a six-week summer session is six credit last institution attended will be treated in the same
hours or an equivalent number of clock hours. manner as if he/she was suspended from Broward
Community College. Transfer students who have
If the student must have the hours in order to already completed an A.A. or baccalaureate degree
graduate, a student in the last term of residence at another college or university, cannot enroll in
prior to graduation may carry an overload even an A.A. degree program at BCC.
though his/her grade point is not high enough
under the above policy. In no event should the Academic Standards of Progress
student enroll for more than 21 credit hours, Broward Community College strives to provide
except with the approval of the Academic the highest quality of instructional and support
Standards Committee. services. Students accepted into certificate and
degree programs will be continually evaluated to
A student who has earned 25 or more semester ensure that standards of progress are achieved and
hours credit is classified as a sophomore. to identify and provide assistance to students who
experience academic difficulties. BCC is
committed to providing assistance for all students

82 www.broward.edu Catalog 2007-2008 Broward Community College


in order to provide an optimal learning experience Cancellation of Previous Unsatisfactory

General Academic Information


so that students will be able to succeed in Record
achieving their educational goals. Students in Associate in Science, Associate in
Applied Science, Certificate or Diploma Programs
The regulations regarding academic standards of who have previous unsatisfactory academic
progress apply to all degree and certificate records may petition for cancellation of their
students. In determining academic progress, previous academic record. If, at the end of 24
college credit, vocational credit and college credit hours, Associate in Science and Associate in
preparatory credit are combined. "Earned Credit" Applied Science Degree students have achieved a
is defined as all courses in which the student grade point average of 2.0 or above, they may be
receives a grade. Courses taken for audit, courses granted cancellation of the previous unsatisfactory
for which a student receives a refund, and courses academic record, except in the case of students
in which a student has withdrawn during the enrolled during or later than Term I, 1997-1998.
withdrawal period will not be included in the For Certificate and Diploma students, the total
determination of academic standing. program hours and a grade point average of
requirement is completion of one-third of the 2.0
Academic Warning Any students shall be or above. Normally, this cancellation will not be
placed on academic warning at the end of a term if approved unless the unsatisfactory student
the student has earned 0-29.9 college and/or performance is at least two academic years old.
vocational credits and has earned less than a 1.5
cumulative grade point average. Students on Canceled academic records will be completely
academic warning should see an academic disregarded in the calculation of credit hours and
advisor or counselor prior to registering for grade point average. However, these students'
the next term. permanent records will show all work attempted
and all grades earned along with a notation about
Academic Probation Any student shall be the cancellation granted by the College.
placed on academic probation at the end of a term
if the student has earned 30-45.9 college and/or Under the articulation agreement binding the
vocational credits and has earned less than a 1.5 Florida public community colleges and state
cumulative grade point average. Students on universities, this policy may not be applied to
academic probation should see an academic Associate in Arts degree students.
advisor or counselor prior to registering for
the next term. Class Attendance Policy
If a student does not attend class within two
Academic Suspension Any student shall be weeks after the drop/add period in each session
placed on academic suspension at the end of a he/she will be withdrawn from classes or receive a
term if the student has earned at least 46.0 college failing grade for non-attendance. In either case,
and/or vocational credits earned for GPA and has no refund will be given.
earned less than a 1.5 cumulative grade point
average. Students academically suspended will not Requirements for class attendance are determined
be permitted to enroll for one semester (fall, by the instructor and will be outlined in the course
winter, or full summer) following the term in syllabus. It is the student’s responsibility to attend
which they were suspended. classes to ensure that he/she is properly enrolled.
By staying in the class, students are agreeing to
After the first academic suspension, and after the abide by that attendance policy.
student has satisfied the penalty, the student must
see the Dean of Student Affairs or designee at the Students will notify instructors in advance of
campus where he/she wishes to enroll. The absences(s) to observe a religious holy day(s) in
student must follow any instructions pertaining to his/her own faith, and shall likewise notify
course selection. Any subsequent suspensions will instructors in advance of other absences when
require the student to petition and appear before practicable under the circumstances. According to
the Academic Standards Committee prior to re- College policy, there shall be no penalty for a
entry. student who is absent because of religious holy
days, the student's serious illness, a death in the
immediate family, or statutory government
Broward Community College Catalog 2007-2008 www.broward.edu 83
responsibilities. If a non-penalized absence occurs Incomplete Grade “I”
General Academic Information
on the first day of class, the student shall notify An “I” grade may be given when a student who is
the instructor of the reason for his/her absence at in good standing and with documented
the next class meeting. The student shall present extenuating circumstances has not completed the
documentation for non-penalized absences should required coursework by the end of the term. The
the faculty member request it. Students will be student should make arrangements to complete
responsible for material covered during an the work prior to the end of the next major
absence. Excessive absences may result in academic term. Summer terms are not considered
withdrawal from the course by the professor or in this time limit. If no change is initiated during
the assignment of an “I” grade when the the next major term, the “I” will automatically
instructor authorizes non-penalized absences but become an “F” on the student's permanent
the work cannot be completed in the time record. If the coursework is completed the grade
available. and recalculated GPA will be placed on the
student’s transcript.
Campus/Center Closing
Owing to unanticipated circumstances that are Official Withdrawal “W”
beyond anyone’s control, or when concerns are Florida State Board of Education requires
raised about the safety and/or security of the community colleges to adhere to the following
students, faculty, staff, and/or facilities, a campus procedures relating to the award of a “W” as a
or the College may be closed. For purposes of result of a student’s withdrawal from a course.
grading and attendance policies, the day(s) during
which the campus/College is closed shall be • The student may withdraw without academic
considered a non-class day(s). When this occurs, penalty from any course by the mid-point of
each Faculty member shall determine how best to the semester.
make up the lost class time.
• The student will be permitted a maximum of
Final Grades and Records two withdrawals per course.
Final grades for each term are retained
permanently. Grade point averages for graduation • Upon the third attempt, the student will not
and honors are calculated only on college and be permitted to withdraw and will receive an
vocational level academic work and include work A, B, C, D, or F grade for that course.
attempted at all colleges. The following grades
are used to calculate the grade point average Non-Attendance Withdrawal “WN”
(GPA): A student who does not attend class within two
Grade Points weeks after the drop/add period in each session
A Excellent 4 will be withdrawn from classes for non-
B Good 3 attendance. No refund will be given.
C Average 2
D Passing 1 Failure due to Non-Attendance “WF”
F Failure 0 “WF” is an assigned grade given for non-
WF Failure - excessive attendance or excessive absences after the last
absences 0 published date to withdraw from classes.
The following grades do not affect the GPA: Audit-X and XW
Grade Points A student should indicate the desire to audit a
I Incomplete 0 course when registering for the class and cannot
W Official Withdrawal 0 change from audit to credit after the drop/add
WN Non-Attendance 0 period. Up to the end of the withdrawal period, a
X Audit 0 student may change from credit to audit with the
XW Audit Withdrawal 0 permission of the Faculty member. A student
NC Non-credit course 0 who audits a course must adhere to attendance
NG No Grade Assigned 0 requirements of the course and, if the Faculty
NR Grade not received 0 member desires, class requirements. No grade will
S Satisfactory 0 be assigned and no credit will be awarded.
U Unsatisfactory 0
84 www.broward.edu Catalog 2007-2008 Broward Community College
However, an audit will count as an attempt if such shall communicate in clear, detailed, written form,

General Academic Information


enrollment status is declared after the drop/add his/her grading policy within the first week of the
period. course. The policy shall be included in the course
syllabus. The elements to be considered in
The transcript will indicate a course was audited calculating the student’s grade shall be clearly
by listing an “X” grade, but an “XW” indicating articulated as to value and all factors to be
withdrawal may be given to the student at the considered in arriving at the final grade stated.
discretion of a Faculty member for failure to The student’s appeal shall be based upon a
adhere to attendance or class requirements of the complaint of inequitable treatment that the
course. A student may take a course previously student can demonstrate with reasonable
audited for credit but may not petition for credit evidence. The appeal shall show that the grading
on the basis of the previous audit. policy was misapplied to the student.

The cost for auditing a course is the same as Grounds for Using the Grade Appeal Process
taking it for credit. A department may exclude a for Academic Dishonesty.
course from audit status. College preparatory The appeal shall be based upon the student’s claim
students, who are required to be certified as that academic dishonesty did not occur. The
completing competency-based college preparatory academic sanction imposed by the Faculty
instruction may not be enrolled as audit students. member and stipulated in the course syllabus may
not be appealed.
Non-credit Course “NC”
The “NC” is assigned automatically for any non- Preliminary Action: If a student thinks that
credit hour course. “NC” is used for continuing he/she has been unfairly graded in a course, the
education, economic development, lifelong student should meet or communicate no later than
learning, and other classes for which no credit is the second week of the next term with the Faculty
awarded. member in an attempt to settle the disputed grade
No Grade Assigned “NG” and avoid the formal Grade Appeal Process.
The “NG” is used to indicate that a student has
not satisfied the requirements for a non-credit The complete grade appeal procedure can be
class. It is also used for certain self-paced courses found in the Student Handbook and in the Grade
and continuing education classes. Appeal Brochure. A copy of the brochure can be
obtained in the Academic Advisement offices on
No Grade Reported “NR” each campus/center.
The “NR” is assigned by the Registrar's Office in
cases where class rolls have not been submitted in Applicable Catalog
time for normal processing of grades. A student who is continuously enrolled in degree,
certificate or diploma programs (except summer
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory “S”/“U” terms) from initial enrollment to graduation may
The “S” and “U” grades are used only for those choose to meet graduation requirements specified
courses that have received prior approval through in either the BCC catalog in effect when initially
the curriculum review process to award the enrolled or the catalog in effect at the time of
satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades. graduation. If a student's attendance is
interrupted by two or more major terms (summer
Grade Appeal Process terms excluded), the student must meet the
The Grade Appeal Processes apply to final course requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of
grades and grades received as a result of academic re-entry, or at the time of graduation. A student
dishonesty. The appeal process described in cannot graduate under a catalog in effect at the
Procedure 6Hx2-4.19 provides procedural due time of initial enrollment if the College has
process to students. eliminated the degree, certificate or diploma
program.
Grounds for Using the Grade Appeal Process
for Final Course Grades Students entering specialized programs, such as
Any appeal of a course grade shall be considered the health science programs, may graduate under
in comparison with the standards in the Faculty the provision of the catalog in effect when the
member’s grading policy. Each Faculty member student was admitted to the specialized program.
Broward Community College Catalog 2007-2008 www.broward.edu 85
Recency of Credit Grade Forgiveness Policy
College courses completed more than 10 years ago A student who has completed a course and desires
General Academic Information

may require validation by examination. to improve his/her grade for that course may
repeat the course only if he/she has earned a “D”
Graduation Honors or “F” grade. The number of repeat attempts is
The calculation of the grade point average for limited to two per course. Repeating a course
honors includes the Broward Community College removes the previous grade only from a student's
record and any previous credit transferred to grade point average. The original grade remains
Broward Community College. Students may on the transcript, but only the grade earned in the
graduate with honors in three grade point last attempt is used for calculating the grade point
categories. average. The State University System articulation
agreement does not allow courses to be repeated
Honors: overall GPA of 3.250-3.499 for the purpose of changing a student's grade
High Honors: overall GPA of 3.500-3.749 point average after the associate degree has been
Highest Honors: overall GPA of 3.750-4.000 awarded.

Honor Students are recognized at graduation and Maximum Attempts Per Course
honors designations will be shown on final A student may have only three attempts per
transcripts. course. An attempt is defined as enrollment after
the 100% refund deadline for courses beginning
Semester Credit Hour Term 1, 1997. Attempts include the original
For degree, technical certificate and Applied grade, repeat of courses, withdrawals and audits.
Technology programs the unit of credit is the Courses taken at other institutions are not counted
semester credit hour, representing 15-16 hours of as an attempt.
lecture instruction with 50-minute class periods.
Generally, 30-32 hours of laboratory work count A student may repeat only those courses in which
as one unit of credit. Clinical courses will vary in a "D" or "F" grade was earned. A fourth attempt
the number of hours per semester credit hour. may be allowed only through a successful petition
For Vocational Certificates the unit of credit is the to the Academic Standards Committee based on
vocational credit. Each vocational credit major extenuating circumstances.
represents 30 clock hours of instruction.
This rule does not apply to repeatable courses,
Short sessions, weekend college, and classes that such as music, choir, etc., that have been
meet less than three times per week are adjusted successfully completed and are now being
to include the same time equivalent as the 16 week repeated for further skill enhancement; or to
terms. courses that are required to be repeated by a
regulatory agency; or those that are being repeated
Semester System as part of the regulatory requirement for
The academic year is divided into three semesters, continuing education to stay current in a field such
also known as Terms. Each Term contains as teacher education.
several Sessions of varying lengths to provide
flexibility in the scheduling of courses. To earn a Florida law requires colleges to assess
comparable unit of credit, class meeting times are students the full cost of instruction after the
adjusted during the abbreviated Sessions. second attempt. The law also provides for
exceptions to this extra fee if there are extenuating
Terms I (fall) and II (winter) are approximately circumstances, such as a student’s serious illness,
seventeen weeks in length. Each of these terms involuntary call to active military duty, changes of
includes a Session 2, and a Session 4 of employment, or other extraordinary situations.
approximately eight weeks in length; and a Session Petitions for exception to the full cost of
3 of approximately twelve weeks in length. instruction based on extenuating circumstances
can be obtained from any campus Registration or
Term III (summer) is approximately twelve weeks Advisement office.
in length. Term III includes Session 1, which is Students are strongly encouraged to discuss,
twelve weeks in length, and Sessions 2 and 3 with their advisor/counselor and financial
which are six weeks in length. services officer, the effect withdrawing or
86 www.broward.edu Catalog 2007-2008 Broward Community College
General Academic Information
repeating a course may have on their Standards Committee in his/her role as the
academic programs and financial aid status. College Student Ombudsman.

Course Pre-requisites and Co-requisites Academic Standards Committee


Pre-requisite and co-requisite courses are listed The chief student affairs officer on each campus
with each course description. Pre-requisites are or center, in the role of campus/center Student
academic requirements that must be completed Ombudsman, shall be responsible for addressing
before enrolling in the next subject level. Students student concerns.
are responsible for knowing and satisfactorily
completing pre-requisite requirements. If a The Academic Standards Committee hears appeals
student registers for a course for the next term from students on matters related to academic
while currently enrolled in a pre-requisite course, policies such as standards of progress, graduation
then the student must satisfactorily complete the requirements, and repeating courses. The
pre-requisite course or withdraw from the higher- Committee makes recommendations to the Vice
level course. Otherwise, the student may be President for Student Affairs in his/her role as
dropped from the course for which he/she is College Student Ombudsman. The following
ineligible. Students, who have completed a pre- procedure shall apply to requests for exceptions to
requisite course at another institution, must established academic policies:
furnish proof before registering for the higher-
level course. 1. The student shall complete the Academic
Co-requisites are courses that must be completed Standards Petition that is available at all
together. An example is a science course and the student affairs offices. The Petition shall
associated laboratory. You cannot take one include all pertinent and relevant
without the other. If you drop one, you must documentation such as transcripts, letters
drop the other. Co-requisite academic from the transferring institution, medical
requirements are stated within the course documentation. If the petition is a
description section of this catalog. request for admission while on
suspension or dismissal from another
Students should know what the academic institution, the student should include a
requirements are before attempting to register for letter of support (if available) to attend
a course. Check the course descriptions in this Broward Community College from the
catalog. previously attended institution.
2. The campus/center chief student affairs
Student Ombudsman officer or designee must sign the petition
The campus/center chief student affairs officer and forward it to the Associate Vice
shall serve as the campus/center Student President for Student Affairs/College
Ombudsman, and will serve as an advocate for Registrar’s Office no later than one week
students’ general issues and concerns. The prior to the scheduled meeting.
campus/center chief student affairs officer will Exceptions must be approved through
guide students to appropriate personnel, and the campus/center chief student affairs
provide students with appropriate College policies officer.
and procedures. 3. The dates, places and times of the
Academic Standards Committee are
If a student’s issue is related to academic standards published in the College calendar and can
of progress, graduation requirements, access to be obtained from the campus/center
courses, or other academic policies, the student affairs offices.
campus/center chief student affairs officer will 4. In cases involving entering or re-entering
refer the student to the Academic Standards Broward Community College after
Committee. The Academic Standards Committee suspension, the student shall be required
makes recommendations to the Vice President for to attend the meeting. Students will
Student Affairs upon reviewing the student’s appear before the Committee in order of
petition and interviewing the student. The Vice sign-in.
President for Student Affairs shall approve or 5. After careful review of the petitions, the
disapprove recommendations from the Academic Committee shall make recommendations
to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Broward Community College Catalog 2007-2008 www.broward.edu 87
The Vice President for Student Affairs examples do not conflict with the intent of this
General Academic Information
approves or disapproves the policy.
recommendations from the Committee.
6. The student shall be notified in writing of Breaches of Broward Community College's policy
the Vice President’s decision. on academic honesty may result in academic
penalties and/or disciplinary action. At the
Academic Honesty discretion of the instructor, academic penalties
Broward Community College expects its students may include, but are not limited to, a failing grade
to be honest in all of their coursework and for a particular assignment or a failing grade for
activities. Breaches of academic honesty include the course. In addition, the instructor or another
cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation, bribery, BCC employee may refer a student to the Dean of
and the unauthorized possession of examinations, Student Affairs for student disciplinary action in
papers, or other class materials that have not been accordance with the BCC Student Handbook.
formally released by instructors. A student's Such discipline may include suspension or
academic work must be the result of his or her expulsion from the College.
own thought, research, or self-expression.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The term “cheating,” includes but is not limited (FERPA)
to, copying homework assignments from another
student; working together with another individual The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
on a take-home test or homework when (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a
specifically prohibited from doing so by the Federal law that protects the privacy of student
instructor, looking at text, notes or another education records. The law applies to all schools
person’s paper during an examination when not that receive funds under an applicable program of
permitted to do so. the U.S. Department of Education.

Cheating also includes the giving of work FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to
formation to another student to be copied and/or their children's education records. These rights
used as his or her own. This includes, but is not transfer to the student when he or she reaches the
limited to, giving someone answers to exam age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high
questions either when the exam is being given or school level. Students to whom the rights have
after having taken an exam; informing another transferred are "eligible students."
student of specific questions that appear or have
appeared on an exam in the same academic term; Parents or eligible students have the right to
giving or selling a term paper, report, project or inspect and review the student's education records
other restricted written materials to another maintained by the school. Schools are not required
student. to provide copies of records unless, for reasons
such as great distance, it is impossible for parents
The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited or eligible students to review the records. Schools
to, an attempt of an individual to claim the work may charge a fee for copies.
of another as the product of his or her own
thoughts, regardless of whether that work has Parents or eligible students have the right to
been published. Plagiarism includes, but is not request that a school correct records which they
limited to, quoting improperly or paraphrasing believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the
text or other written materials without proper school decides not to amend the record, the
citation on an exam, term paper, homework, or parent or eligible student then has the right to a
other written material submitted to an instructor formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still
as one’s own work. Plagiarism also includes decides not to amend the record, the parent or
handing in a paper to an instructor that was eligible student has the right to place a statement
purchased from a term paper service or with the record setting forth his or her view about
downloaded from the Internet and presenting the contested information.
another person’s academic work as one’s own.
Individual academic departments may provide Generally, schools must have written permission
additional examples in writing of what does and from the parent or eligible student in order to
does not constitute plagiarism, provided that such release any information from a student's education
88 www.broward.edu Catalog 2007-2008 Broward Community College
record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose information about them. Schools must notify

General Academic Information


those records, without consent, to the following parents and eligible students annually of their rights
parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § under FERPA. The actual means of notification
99.31): (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student
handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the
• School officials with legitimate educational discretion of each school.
interest;
• Other schools to which a student is Broward Community College maintains and reserves
transferring; the right to release the following directory
• Specified officials for audit or evaluation information without the student’s consent” (1)
purposes; name, (2) enrollment status, (3) degrees and awards
received, and (4) statistics pertaining to a student’s
• Appropriate parties in connection with
participation in officially recognized sports and
financial aid to a student;
activities. If a student does not wish for any
• Organizations conducting certain studies for directory information to be disclosed, he/she should
or on behalf of the school; contact the campus Registration Office.
• Accrediting organizations;
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully The College reserves the right to deny access to
issued subpoena; directory information when such action is deemed
• Appropriate officials in cases of health and necessary to protect the rights of the student.
safety emergencies; and
State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice For additional information or technical assistance,
system, pursuant to specific State law. you may call (202) 260-3887 (voice). Individuals who
use TDD may call the Federal Information Relay
Directory Information Service at 1-800-877-8339.
Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory"
information such as a student's name, address, Or you may contact the Family Policy Compliance
telephone number, date and place of birth, honors Officer at the following address:
and awards, and dates of attendance. However,
schools must tell parents and eligible students Family Policy Compliance Office
about directory information and allow parents and U.S. Department of Education
eligible students a reasonable amount of time to 400 Maryland Avenue, SW
request that the school not disclose directory Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

Broward Community College Catalog 2007-2008 www.broward.edu 89


90 www.broward.edu Catalog 2007-2008 Broward Community College

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