Jonathan R. Hiatt, M.D., Vice Dean for Faculty, with medical students.
Computing Requirements Mobile Device Requirement Account Management Wireless Access Purchasing FAQs Bruin Online
Please contact Dean's Office IT at DeansIT@mednet.ucla.edu
There is a requirement for all medical students at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA to own a personal computer and printer. Hardware/Software Minimum Standards for Medical Students are reviewed and updated annually by committee for each new entering class to enable students to effectively work within the current UCLA campus and medical computing environment. These minimum workstation configurations are expected to carry students throughout their four years of medical school. Any proposed upgrades to an existing set of "minimum" standards will be considered by committee implemented in time for financial aid consideration.
Class of 2019 Minimum Computing Requirements Class of 2018 Minimum Computing Requirements
You may purchase a computer that meets the above requirements at the ASUCLA Computer Stores
Students are required to have basic computer skills and be able to do the following from campus computing facilities or home on a daily basis:
Dos and Don'ts for Safe Mobile Computing for Medical Students
Workshops will be provided to teach basic computing skills as needed.
Software standardization within each class is a must so that students, faculty, and staff can share documents. Therefore, whatever the Class "minimum" standard software is, documents/attachments must be shared in that compatible format within the class. Individuals who upgrade their software beyond the Class "minimum" need to provide documents in the "class compatible" format.
Minimums and Maximums: Student workstations need to function at the "minimums" set forth in the Hardware/Software Minimum Standards for the Computer Requirement document established for each entering class in order to run programs developed by faculty. Conversely, the medical faculty and the Instructional Development and Technology Unit (IDTU) need to develop computer or web-based programs utilizing the student's "minimum" standards as their "maximum" development level for that class.
Encryption Requirement: All students are required to have their mobile devices and removable media verifiably encrypted. This is including, but not limited to, laptops, cell phones, and tablets. For information on how to ensure your devices meet the encryption requirement, please visit http://inventory.dgsom.ucla.edu.
Back to top
Students must have a Mobile Device for the 3rd and 4th year of medical school loaded with the required software. Please note that the device should be wifi-enabled; a phone or data plan is NOT required.
Software Requirement:
Hardware Requirement: You can purchase/use any device that accommodates the software requirements above.
TIP: Be sure to keep your Mobile device charged and backed up onto your home computer.
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA--Westwood Campus:
We currently have wireless access in the following areas:
* Primary lecture halls * BioMedical Library * 3rd Floor Graduate Reading Room * Learning Resource Center * Medical Student Lounge * Health Science Quad outside of the Student Affairs Office * Medical & Dental Student Lounge (aka the “Fish Bowl”, 13-070 CHS) * Various access points on campus
If you would like more information on UCLA campus wireless, go to http://www.bol.ucla.edu/services/wireless/
Charles Drew University:
Secure wireless access to the CDU network is available on the first floors of the Cobb and Keck buildings, including the library, computer labs, and student lounges. Guest access is also available.
Connection to the network requires your CDU username and password, which you can retrieve from https://setup.cdrewu.edu/
Instructions for connecting to the network are available online at: http://www.cdrewu.edu/is/Wireless
Q. I already have a computer. Should I purchase a new one or upgrade my existing machine?
A. First of all, you need to assess what needs to be upgraded on your existing machine. If the upgrade involves replacing the mother board and the processor, you will need to take into consideration your own technical abilities. If the store where you purchase the parts offers an upgrade service, you should factor in the additional costs of the service to see if it is cost effective to perform this upgrade. Additionally, you will not get the same technical and warranty support as you would buying a new machine. If you are receiving financial aid, you will only be eligible to receive funds for the Computer Requirement in your first year. Keep in mind that the faculty develop computer-based curriculum according to the Minimum Standards set for your class. If your computer falls below those minimums, you may find yourself at a disadvantage.
Q. Advantages to owning a laptop computer:
A. With a laptop computer, you get: 1) high portability, 2) access to wireless network in the School of Medicine and campus. A Note from the BioMedical Library /Technology Learning Center (TLC): The BioMedical Library offers wireless access throughout the library. This means that students can take advantage of high-speed connectivity provided for free on campus using their own private computer. Full text articles from online resources can be downloaded directly to the laptop hard drive and read at home without the expense of printing. Copies of web pages can be saved to the hard drive. Students can check email from one machine that is carried between school and home, thus simplifying management of email by keeping it all in one inbox. Students don't have to worry about whether a document they created at school will fit on a USB to be carried home for revision. A laptop kept and used this way for all 4 years of the curriculum can become the "archive" of everything the student studied and researched. If a student chose to, they could burn the hard drive contents to a CD for future reference. Word of caution: laptops should be insured for theft and damage. They must also be very sure to do periodic backups of their information. Insurance policies don't cover data, only a student can "insure" against data mishaps by doing backups religiously!
Q. Printer: Should I purchase a color printer or black and white printer? A laser jet or an ink jet? A printer with duplex?
A. Color printer: 1) can create more sophisticated looking presentations, 2) typically slower then B&W, 3) ink cartridges cost more, 4) prices have been coming down on personal color printers, but beware the free color printer...the ink cartridges will cost you. Black and White printer: 1) typically faster then Color printers, 2) ink cartridges cheaper then Color. Laser vs. Ink Jet: 1) laser printers create crisper text than an ink-jet color printer, 2) newer models of color ink-jet printers are rivaling the clarity and speed of entry-level home laser printers, 3) the toner cartridges for laser printers are more expensive, but they last longer. Duplex/Double-sided Printing: Consider duplex printing to save on paper costs. Cheaper duplex printers may have jamming issues, so ask about the model you are considering.
Q. Should I get the extended warranty?
A. Yes, the extended warranty is required! As with any machine, computers can and do break down. Purchasing an extended warranty will not only cover you for a longer period of time, but will often get you quicker service and extra service features. Make sure you understand exactly what services are covered under the warranty, as different companies can offer different coverage. This should be a factor in the decision of which computer to purchase and from where. You are also required to have your computer insured against theft or damage that may not be covered under a warranty (e.g., renter's insurance).
Q. What type of high speed (broadband) access should I get? Where can I find the best price for broadband internet access?
A. There are many flavors of Broadband currently available. Ultimately your choice will depend on availability in your area. All Broadband options will require that you have an Ethernet network interface card (NIC) installed in your computer or an open USB port. The two most popular choices for home broadband, are Cable or DSL. With both services you will need to call local service providers to check for availability and pricing (both services tend to cost between thirty to fifty dollars monthly, with installation adding a one-time charge). Cable service is made available through your local cable company. This service has no distance limitations, as with DSL. The speed of cable service generally rates high, though you may notice a slowing of your connection as more people in your area embrace this service. DSL is available in limited areas, depending on your phone company. DSL comes in a few different flavors that vary on the upload/download speeds. Limitations currently include being within a certain distance from a central location to qualify for service, and that most companies are currently over-extending themselves and are having trouble meeting the installation demand. You can find more information regarding broadband connections and pricing at the following site: http://www.broadbandreports.com/. NOTE: You might consider campus housing at Weyburn Terrace as broadband access is included in the monthly rate.
A. There are many flavors of Broadband currently available. Ultimately your choice will depend on availability in your area. All Broadband options will require that you have an Ethernet network interface card (NIC) installed in your computer or an open USB port. The two most popular choices for home broadband, are Cable or DSL. With both services you will need to call local service providers to check for availability and pricing (both services tend to cost between thirty to fifty dollars monthly, with installation adding a one-time charge). Cable service is made available through your local cable company. This service has no distance limitations, as with DSL. The speed of cable service generally rates high, though you may notice a slowing of your connection as more people in your area embrace this service. DSL is available in limited areas, depending on your phone company. DSL comes in a few different flavors that vary on the upload/download speeds. Limitations currently include being within a certain distance from a central location to qualify for service, and that most companies are currently over-extending themselves and are having trouble meeting the installation demand.
You can find more information regarding broadband connections and pricing at the following site: http://www.broadbandreports.com/.
NOTE: You might consider campus housing at Weyburn Terrace as broadband access is included in the monthly rate.
Q. Where can I get the software licensed through BOL?
A. You can download the BOL software directly from BOL at: http://www.bol.ucla.edu/software/. These sites are restricted and require that you either download from a UCLA connected machine (On-Campus), logon using your BOL account or the proxy server. Before you can do this you will need to have a BOL account. You can set this up at: https://www.bol.ucla.edu/cgi-ssl/accounts/newuser/
