Required Student Computer Purchase Program for Medical Students

Dear EVMS Prospective Student:

The faculty at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) continually evaluates and improves the curriculum to provide students the best possible educational program.  One important enhancement to the curriculum involves a major increase in the use of computer-assisted instruction and evaluation which include: an electronic textbook and dissection guide for the anatomy course; virtual slides (rather than microscopes) for the histology course; expanded use of electronic aids in virtually all other courses; distribution of important course information such as  syllabi and schedules electronically; and virtually all exams for the first and second years are computer based.  Accordingly, it is necessary that each incoming student have a personal laptop computer capable of running the necessary software to fully and effectively function as a medical student at EVMS.

Beginning with the Class of 2016 students must purchase a laptop computer from EVMS.  These computers are being sold at cost ($1775 last year) and the cost will be added to your tuition bill.   Total cost of the laptop will be determined by January 2012 and posted on the myEVMS Accepted Applicant Portal.

EVMS recognizes that often less expensive laptops may be available online or at retail outlets. However, it is important to understand the following points.

These laptops (Dell) are business class machines configured by EVMS faculty and IT personnel, and have been tested for software and hardware conflicts.  Furthermore each machine has a full 4 year service contract with next day parts delivery and onsite repair.  EVMS Network services can provide limited direct support and coordinate warranty repairs and replacements.   EVMS will maintain a stock of identical spare computers which can immediately be provided to students in the event of a malfunction until repairs or replacement.  There is also a four year contract for anti-theft software and institutionally licensed and maintained McAfee VirusScan and AntiSpyware Enteprise software.  These machines will have operating systems that allow full access to the EVMS campus network.  This means that any updates to operating or security software and updates to EVMS-supplied applications will be automatically propagated via the EVMS network.

The following required business software is included:

a.       Microsoft Office Professional Suite

b.      Adobe Professional Standard

c.       Adobe PhotoShop

The following EVMS service software will also be included:

d.      ExamSoft (testing and evaluation software)

e.       Allscripts (electronic medical health record access)

f.       Virtual Microscopy

g.      Blackboard (curriculum content)

h.      iClicker (audience response)

i.        Google SketchUp (modeling)

j.        Adobe Flash Movie (player)

k.      SymBio Sys [if required by program]

l.        ArcGIS  (modeling and mapping) [if required by program]

m.    SAS 9.2 (Analytics) [if required by program]

Further important details about the Computer Purchase Program will be available on the Incoming Student webpage: http://www.evms.edu/evms-incoming-students/incoming-students.html.  Updates about the Computer Purchase Program will be posted on the myEVMS Accepted Applicant Portal, which you can access once you have been assigned log in credentials as described in the Conditions of Acceptance.   

 Required Student Computer Purchase Program for Medical Master’s (post bac) Students

Dear EVMS Prospective Student:

The faculty at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) continually evaluates and improves the curriculum to provide students the best possible educational program.  One important enhancement to the curriculum involves a major increase in the use of computer-assisted instruction and evaluation which include: an electronic textbook and dissection guide for the anatomy course; virtual slides (rather than microscopes) for the histology course; expanded use of electronic aids in virtually all other courses; distribution of important course information such as  syllabi and schedules electronically; and virtually all exams for the first and second years are computer based.  Accordingly, it is necessary that each incoming student have a personal laptop computer capable of running the necessary software to fully and effectively function as a medical student at EVMS.

Beginning with the Class of 2013 (entering class of 2012) students must purchase a laptop computer from EVMS.  These computers are being sold at cost ($1775 last year) and the cost will be added to your tuition bill.   Total cost of the laptop will be determined by January 2012 and posted on the myEVMS Accepted Applicant Portal.

EVMS recognizes that often less expensive laptops may be available online or at retail outlets. However, it is important to understand the following points.

These laptops (Dell) are business class machines configured by EVMS faculty and IT personnel, and have been tested for software and hardware conflicts.  Furthermore each machine has a full 4 year service contract with next day parts delivery and onsite repair.  EVMS Network services can provide limited direct support and coordinate warranty repairs and replacements.   EVMS will maintain a stock of identical spare computers which can immediately be provided to students in the event of a malfunction until repairs or replacement.  There is also a four year contract for anti-theft software and institutionally licensed and maintained McAfee VirusScan and AntiSpyware Enteprise software.  These machines will have operating systems that allow full access to the EVMS campus network.  This means that any updates to operating or security software and updates to EVMS-supplied applications will be automatically propagated via the EVMS network.

The following required business software is included:

a.       Microsoft Office Professional Suite

b.      Adobe Professional Standard

c.       Adobe PhotoShop

The following  EVMS service software will also be included:

d.      ExamSoft (testing and evaluation software)

e.       Allscripts (electronic medical health record access)

f.       Virtual Microscopy

g.      Blackboard (curriculum content)

h.      iClicker (audience response)

i.        Google SketchUp (modeling)

j.        Adobe Flash Movie (player)

k.      SymBio Sys [if required by program]

l.        ArcGIS  (modeling and mapping) [if required by program]

m.    SAS 9.2 (Analytics) [if required by program]

Further important details about the Computer Purchase Program will be available on the Incoming Student webpage: http://www.evms.edu/evms-incoming-students/incoming-students.html.  Updates about the Computer Purchase Program will be posted on the myEVMS Accepted Applicant Portal, which you can access once you have been assigned log in credentials as described in the Conditions of Acceptance.