Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
Council of Deans Records
UA.2.3
Table of Contents
- Summary Information
- Historical Note
- Scope and Contents note
- Administrative Information
- Controlled Access Headings
- Collection Inventory
- Index to Council of Deans' Actions
- Official Minutes of Meetings (Microfilmed Copy)
- Official Minutes of Meetings (Paper Copy)
- Supporting Documents
- Rough Notes on Meetings
Summary Information
- Repository
- Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections
- Creator -
- Combs, William H.
- Creator -
- Linton, Robert S.
- Creator
- Michigan State University. Council of Deans.
- Title
- Council of Deans records
- ID
- UA.2.3
- Date [inclusive]
- 1916-1986
- Extent
- 4.5 Cubic feet , 23 microfilm reels
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation note
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: "Item title, Collection title, Collection Identifier, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, East Lansing, Michigan".
Historical Note
The Council of Deans, also known as the Committee of Deans, the Committee on Administration, and the Administrative Group, has been meeting formally since June of 1916. During its early history, it was described by President Butterfield as a "faculty committee on legislation and an administrative committee for the executive branch of the college government." As such, the Council reorganized the graduate study and teacher education programs, proposed institution-wide self-study projects, approved the academic calendar, awarded scholarships, selected the College colors and the design of the academic hood, considered student housing and budget problems, and discussed war-related college activities. It also passed on matters relating to courses and curricula, academic programs, and student policies, but these decisions were generally referred to the faculty for final action. Much of the Council's work was of a routine nature and concerned the application of rules and regulations to individual cases.
In 1944, President John A. Hannah appointed a committee to study the operation of the Council. This committee's recommendations, which were approved by the faculty in March of 1944, redefined the Council's duties and streamlined its procedures. The Council became responsible for the authorization of new courses and curricula; major reorganization of old curricula and course offerings which might affect more than one division or which represented a wide variation from current or traditional procedures; and determination of major institutional policies on matters such as adult education, relations with high schools and other colleges, off-campus programs, building programs, budgets, promotion and general salary requirements, and institutional organization. It also acted upon recommendations of the President and other administrative officials for major modifications of the University. More routine administrative matters were adjusted between the department head, the Dean, the Registrar, or other administrative officials concerned, and reported to the Council in writing. With the adoption of the Faculty Bylaws in 1955, the Council's duties and responsibilities changed. It continued to function as a general advisory body to the President on matters of interest to the University as a whole, but seldom deliberated on those issues which under the Faculty Bylaws are the province of the Academic Council and Academic Senate. Topics of major concern to the Council from 1955 to 1978 include the implementation of the Faculty Bylaws, the restructuring of the College of Business and Public Service and the College of Science and Arts, the introduction of the Urban Affairs program, criteria for elimination of academic programs and curricula, computer systems planning, fiscal policy, affirmative action, collective bargaining, and student activism.
Membership in the Council of Deans is by invitation of the President but has generally included the deans and other principal academic officers of the University. The frequency and regularity of meetings vary.
Sources: Memorandum of William H. Combs to Milton E. Muelder, May 22, 1969 in Council of Deans' Minutes, September 23, 1969.
Report of Committee to Study the Function and Membership of the Administrative Group, 9 June 1969 in Council of Deans' Minutes, September 23, 1969.
Memorandum of President Clifton R. Wharton, Jr. to Administrative Group, September 21, 1971 in Council of Deans' Minutes, September 21, 1971.
Scope and Contents note
(1) INDEX TO COUNCIL OF DEANS' ACTIONS, 1940-1955. 0.2 cu. ft.
Index to Council actions was compiled by the Secretary to the Faculties. Entries refer to meeting minutes. Major index headings include, but are not limited to, accrediting; activities-general activities-student; Administrative Group; admissions; committees; committee reports; counseling and testing; courses and curriculum; credits and points; degrees; educational research program; eligibility; employees; enrollment and registration; examinations; faculty; fees and admission; foreign students; grades; graduate school; health service insurance; high school; housing; library; Michigan State College; military affairs; organizations; physical education; placement and personnel; procedures and policies; representatives; rules; salaries and wages; scholarships, loans, and grants; schools, departments, divisions; special studies; students; summer school; travel policies; vacations, time off, leaves; and withdrawals. Each heading has numerous sub-headings. Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.
(2) OFFICIAL MINUTES OF MEETINGS (MICROFILMED COPY). 1916-1978. 23 microfilm reels
Microfilmed copy of official meeting minutes and supporting documents such as formal proposals, reports, and correspondence read at Council meetings or distributed to members. Handwritten notes taken by the Secretary, Robert Linton, are also interfiled here for the years 1945 to 1959. The earlier minutes list administrative officers present and actions taken. After 1924, minutes report meetings in greater detail and include proposals not acted upon, and comments. The value of the minutes is lessened by the fact that they frequently refer to supporting documents which are missing from both this series and the supporting documents' series (see series 4). A large portion of this series is restricted. Restricted minutes include personnel actions and student requests for course substitutions and grade changes. The latter are considered confidential under the University's "Guidelines Governing the Privacy and Release of Student Records." Arranged chronologically.
(3) OFFICIAL MINUTES OF MEETINGS (PAPER COPY). 1916-1982. 3.3 cu. ft.
Paper copy of official meeting minutes and supporting documents. For the years 1916-1971, this series is identical to the microfilmed version. After 1971, it includes fewer supporting documents than the microfilmed copy. As in the previous series, much of this series is restricted. There are duplicates of the meeting minutes available in the reading room. Arranged chronologically.
(4) SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. 1947-1980. 0.3 cu. ft.
Supporting documents including correspondence, committee reports, and formal proposals read at meetings or distributed to members. Supporting documents are also found interfiled among Meeting Minutes (see series 2). Arranged chronologically.
(5) ROUGH NOTES ON MEETINGS. 1959-1968. 0.7 cu. ft.
Handwritten notes taken during meetings by the Secretary of the Faculties, William H. Combs. Similar notes for the years 1945 to 1959 are interfiled among Meeting Minutes (see series 2). Arranged chronologically.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections June 1982
Revision Description
August 2011
Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Box Mf., folders 1-10 and 14; box 429, volumes 1-13; box 430, volumes 1-9 are restricted access.
Legal Status note
Copyright: Michigan State University Property Rights: Michigan State University
Conditions Governing Use note
Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.
Controlled Access Headings
Subject(s)
- Education -- Administration
- Education, Higher -- Michigan
Collection Inventory
Index to Council of Deans' Actions 1940-1955 |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
A |
357 | 1 | ||
|
C |
357 | 2 | ||
|
D-H |
357 | 3 | ||
|
L-R |
357 | 4 | ||
|
S-W |
357 | 5 | ||
|
|
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Official Minutes of Meetings (Microfilmed Copy) 1916-1978 |
Drawer Microfilm |
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mf 1 June 16, 1916 - December 12, 1930 |
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mf 2 January 9, 1931 - December 22, 1939 |
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mf 3 Janaury 16, 1940 - December 18, 1945 |
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mf 4 Janaury 8, 1946 - December 30, 1947 |
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mf 5 January 20, 1948 - December 21, 1948 |
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mf 6 January 11, 1949 - December 10, 1951 |
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mf 7 January 2, 1952 - June 4, 1954 |
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mf 8 September 15, 1954 - December 13, 1955 |
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mf 9 January 10, 1956 - December 2, 1958 |
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mf 10 January 6, 1959 - April 9, 1962 |
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mf 11 April 16, 1962-December 8, 1964 |
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mf 12 January-December 1965 |
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mf 13 January 1966-July 1967 |
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mf 14 October 1967-June 1969 |
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mf 15 September 1969-June 1970 |
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mf 16 July 1970-June 1971 |
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mf 17 August 1971-June 6, 1972 |
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mf 18 June 28, 1972-June 1973 |
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mf 19 July 1973-June 1974 |
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mf 20 July 1974-July 1975 |
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mf 21 September 1975-July 1976 |
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mf 22 September 1976-June 1977 |
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mf 23 September 1977-June 1978 |
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| Box | ||||
|
Duplicate Set (reels 1-23) |
3078 | |||
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Official Minutes of Meetings (Paper Copy) 1916-1977 Duplicates of the volumes are available in the reading room of Conrad Hall |
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| Box | Volume | |||
|
v. 1 June 16, 1916 – December 14, 1925 |
429 | 1 | ||
|
v. 2 January 11, 1926 – December 10, 1928 |
429 | 2 | ||
|
v. 3 February 1, 1929 – December 22, 1930 |
429 | 3 | ||
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v. 4 January 9, 1931 – December 14, 1933 |
429 | 4 | ||
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v. 5 January 5, 1934 – December 22, 1939 |
429 | 5 | ||
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v. 6 January 16, 1940 – December 19, 1944 |
429 | 6 | ||
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v. 7 January 5, 1945 – December 18, 1945 |
429 | 7 | ||
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v. 8 January 8, 1946 – December 24, 1946 |
429 | 8 | ||
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v. 9 January 14, 1947 – December 30, 1947 |
429 | 9 | ||
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v. 10 January 20, 1948 – December 21, 1948 |
429 | 10 | ||
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v. 11 January 11, 1949 – December 27, 1949 |
429 | 11 | ||
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v. 12 January 9, 1950 – December 12, 1950 |
429 | 12 | ||
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v. 13 January 9, 1951 – December 10, 1951 |
429 | 13 | ||
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v. 14 January 2, 1952 – December 9, 1952 |
430 | 14 | ||
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v. 15 January 8, 1953 – June 4, 1954 |
430 | 15 | ||
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v. 16 September 15, 1954 – December 14, 1954 |
430 | 16 | ||
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v. 17 January 11, 1955 – May 24, 1955 |
430 | 17 | ||
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v. 18 June 3, 1955 – December 13, 1955 |
430 | 18 | ||
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v. 19 January 10, 1956 – November 6, 1956 |
430 | 19 | ||
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v. 20 January 2, 1957 – December 17, 1957 |
430 | 20 | ||
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v. 21 January 14, 1958 – December 2, 1958 |
430 | 21 | ||
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v. 22 January 6, 1959 – December 15, 1959 |
430 | 22 | ||
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v. 23 January 12, 1960 – December 13, 1960 |
430 | 23 | ||
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v. 24 January 10, 1961 – April 9, 1962 |
430 | 24 | ||
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v. 25 April 16, 1962 – December 18, 1962 |
431 | 25 | ||
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v. 26 January 8, 1963 – November 20, 1963 |
431 | 26 | ||
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v. 27 January 14, 1964 – December 8, 1964 |
431 | 27 | ||
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v. 28 January 12, 1965 – December 7, 1965 |
431 | 28 | ||
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v. 29 January 18, 1966 – July 5, 1967 |
431 | 29 | ||
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v. 30 October 3, 1967 – June 3, 1969 |
431 | 30 | ||
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v. 31 Part 1 September 19, 1969 – February 10, 1970 |
431 | 31 Part 1 | ||
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v. 31 Part 2 February 17, 1970 – June 16, 1970 |
431 | 31 Part 2 | ||
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v. 32 Part 1 July 22, 1970 – October 9, 1970 |
431 | 32 Part 1 | ||
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v. 32 Part 2 October 20, 1970 – June 1, 1971 |
431 | 32 Part 2 | ||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
August-December 1971 |
357 | 6 | ||
|
January-June 1972 |
357 | 7 | ||
|
July-December 1972 |
357 | 8 | ||
|
1974 |
357 | 9 | ||
|
1975 |
357 | 10 | ||
|
1976 |
357 | 11 | ||
|
1977 |
357 | 12 | ||
|
1978 |
357 | 13 | ||
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January-March, 1979 |
357 | 14 | ||
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June-December, 1979 |
357 | 15 | ||
|
1980 |
357 | 16 | ||
|
1981 |
357 | 17 | ||
|
1982 |
357 | 18 | ||
| Drawer | Folder | |||
|
(Unofficial) 1985 |
F.D. | 1 | ||
|
(Unofficial) 1986 |
F.D. | 2 | ||
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|
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Supporting Documents 1947-1968 |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
1947-1951 |
357 | 19 | ||
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1952-1954 |
357 | 20 | ||
|
1955 |
357 | 21 | ||
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1956 |
357 | 22 | ||
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1957 |
357 | 23 | ||
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1958 |
357 | 24 | ||
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1959-1960 |
357 | 25 | ||
|
1961 |
357 | 26 | ||
|
1962 |
357 | 27 | ||
|
1963 |
357 | 28 | ||
|
1965-1966 |
357 | 29 | ||
|
1966-1968 |
357 | 30 | ||
|
1969-1980 |
357 | 31 | ||
| Drawer | Folder | |||
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1985 |
F.D. | 3 | ||
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1986 |
F.D. | 4-5 | ||
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Rough Notes on Meetings 1959-1968 |
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| Box | Folder | |||
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October 1959 |
357 | 32 | ||
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November-December 1959 |
357 | 33 | ||
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January-February 1960 |
357 | 34 | ||
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March-May 1960 |
357 | 35 | ||
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September-December 1960 |
357 | 36 | ||
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January-April 1961 |
357 | 37 | ||
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May-June 1961 |
357 | 38 | ||
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October 1961 |
357 | 39 | ||
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November-December 1961 |
357 | 40 | ||
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February-March 1962 |
357 | 41 | ||
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May-June 1962 |
357 | 42 | ||
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September-October 1962 |
357 | 43 | ||
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November-December 1962 |
357 | 44 | ||
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January-March 1963 |
357 | 45 | ||
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April-June 1963 |
357 | 46 | ||
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October 1963 |
357 | 47 | ||
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November-December 1963 |
357 | 48 | ||
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January-February 1964 |
357 | 49 | ||
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March-April 1964 |
357 | 50 | ||
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May-June 1964 |
357 | 51 | ||
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September-October 1964 |
357 | 52 | ||
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November-December 1964 |
357 | 53 | ||
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January-February 1965 |
357 | 54 | ||
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March-April 1965 |
357 | 55 | ||
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May-June 1965 |
357 | 56 | ||
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September-December 1965 |
357 | 57 | ||
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January-March 1966 |
1232H | 1 | ||
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April-June 1966 |
1232H | 2 | ||
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August-December 1966 |
1232H | 3 | ||
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February-April 1967 |
1232H | 4 | ||
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May-July 1967 |
1232H | 5 | ||
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October-December 1967 |
1232H | 6 | ||
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January-June 1968 |
1232H | 7 | ||
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