2007-2008- Volume 82, No. 1

Intent and Purpose:
This College of Education Rule is applicable to all upper-division Teacher Education Programs.

1. UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
1. Admission Criteria for Degree Seeking Students:
   Admission to the College of Education is based on applicants meeting all of the following criteria:
   
   
   1. To be eligible for upper-division education courses, students must have earned an overall cumulative 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale in a lower-division education-related program of study.
   
   
   2. Effective June 2004, Florida Statute 1004.04(4)(b),2 requires pre-service candidates to demonstrate mastery of general knowledge, including the ability to read, write and compute by passing the Florida Department of Education General Knowledge Test (GK) of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE). Students may choose to present passing scores on the GK, CLAST, or PRAXIS I for admission to a state-approved teacher preparation program.
   
   
   
   1. Students who submit CLAST scores for admissions may not use waivers, exemptions or alternative satisfactions to meet this requirement. The CLAST remains as a graduation requirement from the SPC A.A. and B.S. programs (waivers, exemptions or alternative satisfactions permitted).
   2. Students who present General Knowledge scores will have met 1/3 of the FTCE. The General Knowledge Test remains an approved program completion requirement, along with the Professional Education and Subject Area subtests of the FTCE.
   3. Students who submit CLAST or PRAXIS I scores, must also demonstrate basic skills knowledge through the General Knowledge Test in order to satisfy graduation requirements.
   4. If a candidate failed one or more CLAST subtest(s) and did not retake and pass the subtest(s) before July 1, 2002, the candidate must register for and pass the appropriate corresponding subtests(s) of the General Knowledge Test. The Bureau of Educator Certification has no authority to accept a CLAST subtest taken after June 30, 2002, for certification credit
   
   
   3. Completed the A.A. degree or equivalent coursework in an education-related program of study: All general education requirements and lower-division Florida-mandated prerequisites for specified Teacher Education Programs of study.
      
      
      1. Students must have completed all SPC general education requirements (36 hours) or general education courses on the approved State of Florida list at other fully accredited post-secondary institutions within the prescribed cumulative GPA; i.e., 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). Students must have completed all college preparatory courses prior to admission into the College of Education.
      2. Students must have completed the lower-division common education prerequisites: EDF 1005 Intro to Education, EDG 2701 Teaching Diverse Populations and EME 2040 Intro to Educational Technology with grades no lower than a “C” in each course. Equivalent college-level courses with equivalent semester credit hours with a grade no lower than “C” in each course will be considered.
      3. Students transferring from Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC) will be advised to complete their A.A. degree at PHCC.
      4. Pursuant to the waiver provisions provided by Florida Statutes 240.529(3) students who do not meet the lower-division state-mandated prerequisites specific to the intended Teacher Education major and/or other admission criteria may petition the Dean of Education for admission and may, with permission of the Dean, be admitted into the upper-division.
      
      
   4. Submitted all completed application materials and forms:
      
      
      1. Baccalaureate Application Supplement
      2. Official academic transcripts from all past post-secondary institutions attended.
      3. Transfer students will be required to sign a release of information/education records form at the point of applying for admission to the College of Education. This form releases educational records from the previous institution( s) and authorizes those persons within the institution(s) having knowledge, custody or control of said records to disclose information to the College Registrar, or Dean of the College of Education, or other appropriate college personnel. Transfer students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing with all previous Education programs and must be eligible to return to all previous College of Education attended.
      4. A transient student is one who preserves uninterrupted residency status with the home college while attending St. Petersburg College. Students who wish to attend St. Petersburg College on a transient basis must substitute a Transient Form approved by the home college in lieu of an official transcript. The Transient Form or official transcript must be forwarded along with the Application of Admission and fee, to the Admissions/Registration Office on the campus he/she expects to attend. Approval from the Dean is required prior to enrollment.
         
         
2. Progression Requirements for Undergraduate Students
   The following progression requirements apply to ALL undergraduate students admitted to the College of Education, except where specifically noted:
   
   
   1. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and a College of Education GPA of 2.5. Students who do not maintain the GPA requirements will be placed on academic probation, suspended or dismissed. Please refer to Section 9 below. Students must work with the Baccalaureate Program Specialist (or College of Education advisors) and College of Education faculty advisor or Education Specialist to develop an academic plan
   
   
   2. Florida Teaching Certification Exam (FTCE)
      Students, who already hold a Bachelor’s Degree, wishing to enroll in upper-division courses leading to teacher certification, are encouraged to obtain certification guidance from the Florida Department of Education and/or a school district.
   
   
   
   1. General Knowledge Test
      Undergraduate degree-seeking students must pass the General Knowledge (GK) Test prior to admission, and the Professional Education and appropriate Subject Area sections of the FTCE prior to final internship placement. In the event that test dates do not allow students to take the Subject Area exam prior to final internship, undergraduate degree-seeking students will be permitted to take only the Subject Area exam during their final internship semester. Students must have the results of the FTCE exams sent/ released to SPC prior to registration for the final internship.
   
   
   2. Required Subject Area Exams (SAE) for undergraduate degree-seeking students
      The following Florida Teacher Certificate Exams are required for the corresponding majors for undergraduate degree-seeking students:
      
   • Biology 6-12 program major: Biology (6-12) (002) Subject Area Exam
   • Business Education 6-12 program major: Business Education 6-12 (052) Subject Area Exam
   • Elementary Education K-6 program major: Elementary Education K-6 (060) Subject Area Exam
   • Exceptional Student Education K-12 program major: Exceptional Student Education K-12 (061) Subject Area Exam
   • Mathematics 6-12 program major: Mathematics 6-12 (026) Subject Area Exam
   • Technology Education 6-12 program major: Technology Education 6-12 (055) Subject Area Exam
   
   3. Students who take a certification test other than the one specified for their program major will not be eligible for program completion until passing scores on the required tests are presented.
   
   
   
   3. All program requirements within the undergraduate degree-seeking teacher education major must be successfully completed prior to receiving approval to be placed in the student teaching internship. The final internship or student teaching is a process separate from admission to the College of Education. Therefore, admission to the College of Education does not guarantee approval to complete the student teaching internship. Therefore, students must apply for and obtain approval to be placed in the student teaching internship.
   4. All students (full-time and part-time) must complete the school-based experiences associated with a course at pre-assigned sites within the semester's time frame.
   5. During the final internship semester, undegraduate (degree-seeking) students are not permitted to enroll in additional coursework.
   6. All students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in all core courses, practica, methods, and the College of Education internship.
   7. No student may enroll in any college preparatory courses while enrolled in the College of Education.
   8. Permission to attend another institution on a transient basis will be granted to St. Petersburg College students on a case-by-case basis. Eligibility for transient status and acceptability of courses is determined by the Baccalaureate Program Specialist for the College of Education and the Coordinator of Baccalaureate Records. The student is urged to bring the Coordinator of Baccalaureate Records course descriptions of each course to determine their transferability and equivalency. Transient permission is not usually given to any student for consecutive sessions.
      Students granted permission to take courses on a transient basis must complete a Transient Form with the Baccalaureate Program Specialist for the College of Education. Only those courses listed on the Transient Form will be accepted as equated on the form. Courses earned in transient status are accept with the grades earned and are treated as transfer work.
      
   9. Academic Probation, Suspension and Dismissal for Undergraduate Students
   1. Academic Probation
   1. Students must maintain the 2.5 overall GPA. Failure to do so will result in academic probation.
   2. The student will remain on probation and must maintain a 3.0 for each subsequent semester until the overall GPA is 2.5 or higher. Failure to do so will result in suspension for one semester.
   3. Students receiving VA benefits and/or other forms of financial assistance may lose some or all of such benefits as a result of being placed on probation, suspended or dismissed.
      
      
   2. Academic Suspension
   1. After being placed on academic probation, a student will be suspended at the end of any session for which his/her session GPA is below 3.0.
   2. While under academic suspension, the student is ineligible to re-enroll for a period of one session.
   3. Following the completion of an academic suspension, the student is required to consult with the Baccalaureate Specialist prior to re-admission.
   4. Upon return from academic suspension, the student must maintain a minimum session GPA of 3.0 each session until the student's cumulative GPA is at least 2.5.
      
      
   3. Academic Dismissal
   1. A student who has been suspended for at least one session, and who returns and then fails to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 each session will be dismissed.
   2. A student who has been academically dismissed is not eligible for further enrollment for at least one calendar year (12 months) following such dismissal.
   3. Following the completion of an academic dismissal, a student must consult with the Baccalaureate Specialist prior to re-admission.
   4. Upon return from academic dismissal, the student must maintain a minimum session GPA of 3.0 each session until the student's cumulative GPA is at least 2.5.
      
      
3. School-Based Experience Requirements for Undergraduate Students
   
   
1. All students enrolled in any COE school-based experience courses-irrespective of a program or certification-will be required to complete or have on file with a districts, a local, state, and national background check and fingerprinting. Students will not permitted to participate in school-based experiences until they demonstrate evidence of having cleared the background check.
   
   
1. All students enrolled in COE School-based experience courses, practica, and final internship must submit a Disclosure of Background Information form each semester to the Office of School Partnerships that updates background information. All students are required to report any changes to their Disclosure of Background Information form within 48 hours of the event and contact the Office of School Partnerships.
   All students enrolled in the College of Education must provide complete information regarding prior employment and work history. All pending litigation, criminal arrests, and convictions must be reported even if records have been sealed, or expunged, or occurred when the student was a minor. Failure to disclose complete information may result in the student not being eligible to continue enrollment in the College of Education.
   It is the student's responsibility to follow up with the school district to determine if the identified infraction precludes them from participating in school-based classes
2. A fee for the FDLE, FBI background check is required to be paid by each applicant. Upon request, fee waivers may be approved by the Office of Scholarships and Student Financial Assistance to document economically disadvantaged applicants (AFDC, Pell, Workforce, etc). Each school district requires a separate background check.
3. Students who disclose background information that may preclude them from gaining a teaching certificate or teaching position in the State of Florida may not be permitted to participate in school-based experiences and will not be eligible to continue enrollment in the College of Education. If a student discloses the information prior to registration that precludes them from working with children, they may be eligible for a tuition refund following an appeals process. If a student did not disclose background information prior to registration, they may be withdrawn from any and all school-based courses without a refund. Students may continue their coursework for the remainder of the semester in non school-based classes.
4. All students enrolled in any College of Education practicum course- irrespective of program or certification area-will be required to complete or have on file with a district a current FDLE background check. Any allegations of misconduct that surface about a student enrolled in any COE practicum course will result in the student's placement being put on hold until such time as all allegations or pending investigations are resolved.
5. Students with unacceptable background check (FDLE, FBI) results will not be eligible to continue enrollment in the College of Education. These students will be withdrawn from all courses, including the final internship, without a refund of any previously paid tuition or fees.
6. All students will be required to meet and maintain the current background hiring guideline standards set forth by the County School Boards where their placement for school-based experiences occur in order to remain eligible to continue enrollment in the College of Education.


2. The College of Education has the right to place on probation, suspend or dismiss any student, in school-based environments, who does not exhibit the competencies required by the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (knowledge, competencies, dispositions or ethics) at the preprofessional level in accordance with Board Rule 6Hx23-4.721.
3. A student who does not successfully complete the final internship after the second attempt must submit a detailed written document requesting permission to repeat the final internship for a third time. The request may be denied by the Dean of the College of Education. If the request is denied by the Dean of the College of Education, a student may appeal following the guidelines outlined in BOT Rule 6Hx23-4.36 Student Grievances and Appeals, Appeals to Waiver Requirements of CLAST, Appeals to Exclude Coursework from Grade Point Calculations, and Student Body Governance and Recommendations. Grounds for overriding the decision of the Dean would be based on the decision being made in a capricious or arbitrary manner.
4. Program completion within the College of Education does not necessarily guarantee certification by the Florida Department of Education.
   
   
4. Completion/Graduation for Undergraduate Students
1. The following graduation requirements apply to students admitted to undergraduate degreeseeking program majors within the College of Education:
1. Students must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in order to be eligible to graduate and must earn a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.00 scale in upper-division courses in College of Education.
2. Students must have completed (with passing grades) two sequential years of a single foreign language in high school or 8 to 10 semester hours of a single foreign language at the college or university level (as required by Florida Statute 240.233).
3. For the purposes of conferring the Bachelor's degree, students must complete at least 40 semester hours of courses numbered 3000 level or above. At least 30 of the 40 hours including internship must be earned at St. Petersburg College.
4. Students must complete the general education requirements for the Associate in Arts degree including any assessment of education outcomes that are required by the College.
5. Students must pass all sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination or other instrument authorized for certification within the State of Florida prior to being eligible for program completion and/or graduation.
6. Students must complete six hours of coursework with an international/multicultural focus. This is automatically met with the AA degree for native SPC students. This is met with the AA degree or Bachelor's degree for transfer students.
7. While the College catalog governs a student 's program requirements, changes to a program emanating from the Florida State Board of Education will take precedence over the College catalog and may alter a student's program of study.
8. The Florida State Board of Education requires all College of Education students to demonstrate competency in all the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices as well as appropriate ESOL standards, if applicable, as a condition of graduation.
9. College of Education students must apply for graduation the semester prior to the final internship. Fall graduates must apply no later than March 1 of the preceding semester. Spring graduates must apply no later than October 1 of the preceding semester.
10. Students must successfully complete all program requirements including courses, school based hours, the final internship experience, and successfully pass all portions of the FTCE as a condition of graduation and program completion.
11. Graduation requirements as set forth in St. Petersburg College's Board of Trustees' Rule 6Hx23-4.01, 6Hx23-4.02 and 6Hx23- 4.24 will also apply.
    
    
2. NON-DEGREE SEEKING AND POST BACCALAUREATE STUDENTS
1. Admission Criteria for Non-Degree Seeking and Post Baccalaureate Students
   Enrollment in any College of Education course/program is based on applicants meeting the criteria under an appropriate category.
   
   
1. Post-Baccalaureate Students [Not Enrolling in the Institute for Meaningful Post-Baccalaureate Alternative Certification for Teachers (IMPACT) program] Students who already hold a Bachelor's Degree and wish to enroll in upper-division courses leading to teacher certification, are encouraged to obtain certification guidance from the Florida Department of Education and/or a school district.
1. Additional certification:
   Post-Baccalaureate students, possessing a teaching certificate, who wish to enroll in an upper-division course must provide proof of an earned Bachelor's Degree (official transcript), and the recommended certification program of study from the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Educator Certification or from a school district. Students must also complete the Baccalaureate Application Supplement.
2. Re-certification:
   Post-Baccalaureate students who wish to enroll in an upper-division course must provide proof of an earned Bachelor's Degree (official transcript) and verification of teacher certification or employment in a school district. Students must also complete the Baccalaureate Application Supplement.
3. Alternative Certification:
   Post-Baccalaureate students who wish to enroll in an upper-division course must provide proof (of an earned Bachelor's Degree official transcript) and the recommended certification program of study from the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Educator Certification or from a school district.
4. Other non-degree seeking students must seek permission of the Dean.
   
   
2. Post-Baccalaureate Students [Enrolling in the Institute for Meaningful Post-Baccalaureate Alternative Certification for Teachers (IMPACT) program]
   Baccalaureate Application Supplement:
   
1. Official academic transcripts from all past post-secondary institutions attended;
2. Status of Eligibility letter from the Florida Department of Education for U.S. Citizens. International students may present the Status of Eligibility during their first semester in the College of Education.
3. Students must demonstrate mastery of general knowledge, including the ability to read, write, and compute by passing the Florida Department of Education General Knowledge Test (GK) of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE) prior to admissions into the program. International students must present passing scores on the FTCE during their first semester in their program.
   
   
2. Progression Requirements for Non-Degree Seeking and Post-Baccalaureate Students
   The following progression requirements apply to nondegree and Post-Baccalaureate students admitted to the College of Education except where specifically noted:
1. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and a College of Education GPA of 2.5. Students who do not maintain the GPA requirements will be placed on academic probation, suspended or dismissed. Please refer to Section IV. below. Students must work with the Baccalaureate Program Specialist and College of Education faculty advisor or Education Specialist to develop an academic plan.
2. Florida Teacher Certification Exam
   1. Post-Baccalaureate IMPACT Students must pass the General Knowledge (GK) prior to admission and the Professional Education and appropriate Subject Area exams prior or during their final semester in which they are seeking program completion. Secondary Mathematics (6-12) and Secondary Science (6-12) IMPACT students must have passed the appropriate Subject Area Section prior to admission into the program. Students must have the results of the FTCE exams sent/ released to SPC prior to the end of their program's final semester in which they are seeking program completion.
   2. Required Subject Area Exams for Post- Baccalaureate IMPACT students The following Florida Teacher Certification Exams are required for the corresponding majors for the Post Baccalaureate IMPACT students:
      • Biology 6-12 program major: Biology (6- 12) (002) Subject Area Exam
      • Elementary Education K-6 program major: Elementary Education K-6 (060) Subject Area Exam
      • Exceptional Student Education K-12 program major: Exceptional Student Education K-12 (061) Subject Area exam
      • Mathematics 6-12 program major: Mathematics 6012 (026) Subject Area Exam
   3. Students who take a certification test other than the one specified for their program major will not be eligible for program completion until passing scores on the required tests are presented.
      
      
3. All students (full-time and part-time) must complete the school-based experiences associated with their program at pre-assigned sites within the semester's time frame.
4. Post-Baccalaureate IMPACT students will complete online pre-assessments within the first two weeks of the semester in which they are admitted. Failure to complete the online pre-assessment within the stated timeframe may result in a delay of progress through the program. Post- Baccalaureate IMPACT students will also complete online post-assessments during the final semester of their program. Failure to complete the post-assessments may result in a delay of program completion.
5. All students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in all core courses, practica, methods, and the College of Education internship.
6. No student may enroll in any college preparatory courses while enrolled in the College of Education.
7. Transient students from St. Petersburg College: Permission to attend another institution on a transient basis will be granted on a case-by-case basis. Eligibility for transient status and acceptability of courses is determined by the Education Specialist for the College of Education and the Coordinator of Baccalaureate Records. The student is urged to bring the Coordinator of Baccalaureate Records course descriptions of each course to determine their transferability and equivalency. Transient permission is not usually given to any student for consecutive sessions. Students granted permission to take courses on a transient basis must complete a Transient Form with the Education Program Specialist for the College of Education. Only those courses listed on the Transient Form will be accepted as equated on the form. Courses earned in transient status are accepted with the grades earned and are treated as transfer work.
   
8. Academic Probation, Suspension and Dismissal
1. Academic Probation
1. Students must maintain the 2.5 overall GPA. Failure to do so will result in academic probation.
2. The student will remain on probation and must maintain a 3.0 for each subsequent semester until the overall GPA is 2.5 or higher. Failure to do so will result in suspension for one semester.
3. Students receiving VA benefits and/or other forms of financial assistance may lose some or all of such benefits as a result of being placed on probation, suspended or dismissed.


2. Academic Suspension
1. After being placed on academic probation, a student will be suspended at the end of any session for which his/her session GPA is below 3.0.
2. While under academic suspension, the student is ineligible to re-enroll for a period of one session.
3. Following the completion of an academic suspension, the student is required to consult with the Baccalaureate Specialist prior to readmission.
4. Upon return from academic suspension, the student must maintain a minimum session GPA of 3.0 each session until the student's cumulative GPA is at least 2.5.
   
   
3. Academic Dismissal
1. A student who has been suspended for at least one session, and who returns and then fails to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 each session will be dismissed.
2. A student who has been academically dismissed is not eligible for further enrollment for at least one calendar year (12 months) following such dismissal.
3. Following the completion of an academic dismissal, as described in section 2 above, the student is required to consult with the Education Specialist prior to re-admission.
4. Upon return from academic dismissal, the student must maintain session GPA of 2.0 each session until the student's cumulative GPA is at least 2.5.
   
   
3. School-Based Experience Requirements for Non-Degree Seeking and Post Baccalaureate Students
1. All students enrolled in any COE school-based experience courses- irrespective of program or certification-will be required to complete or have on file with a districts, a local, state, and national background check and fingerprinting. Students will not be permitted to participate in schoolbased experiences until they demonstrate evidence of having cleared the background check.
   
   
1. All students enrolled in COE school-based experience courses, practica, and final internship must submit a Disclosure of Background information form each semester to the Office of School Partnerships that updates background information. All students are required to report any changes to their Disclosure of Background Information form within 48 hours of the event and contact the Office of School Partnerships.
   All students enrolled in the College of Education must provide complete information regarding prior employment and work history. All pending litigation, criminal arrests, and convictions must be reported even if records have been sealed, or expunged, or occurred when the student was a minor. Failure to disclose complete information may result in the student not being eligible to continue enrollment in the College of Education.
   It is the student's responsibility to follow up with the school district to determine if the identified infraction precludes them from participating in school-based classes.
2. A fee for the FDLE, FBI background check is required to be paid by each applicant. Upon request, fee waivers may be approved by the Office of Scholarships and Student Financial Assistance to document economically disadvantaged applicants (AFDC, Pell, Workforce, etc). Each school district requires a separate background check.
3. Students who disclose background information that may preclude them from gaining a teaching certificate or teaching position in the State of Florida may not be permitted to participate in school-based experiences and will not be eligible to continue enrollment in the College of Education. If a student discloses the information prior to registration that precludes them from working with children, they may be eligible for a tuition refund following and appeals process. If a student did not disclose background information prior to registration, they may be withdrawn from any and all school-based courses without a refund. Students may continue their coursework for the remainder of the semester in non school-based classes.
4. All students enrolled in any College of Education practicum course-irrespective of program or certification area- will be required to complete or have on file with a district a current FDLE background check. Any allegations of misconduct that surface about a student enrolled in any COE practicum course will result in the student's placement being put on hold until such time as all allegations or pending investigations are resolved.
5. Students with unacceptable background check (FDLE, FBI) results will not be eligible to continue enrollment in the College of Education. These students will be withdrawn from all courses, including the final internship, without a refund of any previously paid tuition or fees.
6. All students will be required to meet and maintain the current background hiring guideline standards set forth by the County School Boards where their placement for school-based experiences occur in order to remain eligible to continue enrollment in the College of Education.
   
   
2. The College of Education has the right to place on probation, suspend or dismiss any student, in school-based environments, who does not exhibit the competencies required by the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (knowledge, competencies, dispositions or ethics) at the preprofessional level in accordance with Board Rule 6Hx23-4.721
3. A student who does not successfully complete the final internship after the second attempt must submit a detailed written document requesting permission to repeat the final internship for a third time. The request may be denied by the Dean of the College Education. If the request is denied by the Dean of the College of Education, a student may appeal following the guidelines outlined in BOT Rule 6Hx23-4.36 Student Grievances and Appeals, Appeals to Waiver Requirements of CLAST, Appeals to Exclude Coursework from Grade Point Calculations, and Student Body Governance and recommendations. Grounds for overriding the decision of the Dean would be based on the decision being made in an capricious or arbitrary manner.
4. Program completion within the College of Education does not necessarily guarantee certification by the Florida Department of Education.


4. Completion Requirements for Non-Degree Seeking and Post-Baccalaureate Students
   The following completion requirements apply to Post- Baccalaureate students admitted to IMPACT certification programs within the College of Education:
   
   
1. Students must have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in College of Education coursework to be eligible to complete the program.
2. Students must pass all sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination or other instrument authorized for certification within the State of Florida prior to being eligible for program completion and/or graduation.
3. Students must successfully complete all program requirements including courses, school based hours, the final internship experience (if applicable), and successfully pass all portions of the FTCE as a condition of program completion.
4. While the College catalog governs a student's program requirements, changes to a program emanating from the Florida State Board of Education will take precedence over the College catalog and may alter a student's program of study.
5. The Florida State Board of Education requires all College of Education students to demonstrate competency in all the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices as well as all appropriate ESOL standards, if applicable, as a condition of program completion.

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Last revised July 25 2007
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