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Wireless/Laptop Connectivity for Library Patrons

Platform The University of South Dakota School of Medicine does NOT require students to have personal computing technology for their studies.  However, having access to computing technology may facilitate your personal learning while in medical school.  USDSM has established a platform standard and supports Microsoft© products.  USDSM plans on having wireless access points in 1^st and 2^nd year classrooms and the Vermillion and Sioux Falls medical libraries by the fall of 2003. Therefore, USDSM recommends that if a new device is purchased for use on campus, such as a laptop, Tablet PC or handheld, it is either equipped with wireless technology, or upgradeable for access to USDSM network resources.   Please contact Cyndy McBride (cmcbride@usd.edu) at USDSM prior to making any computer purchases. 

Recommendations for computer devices:

Facilities
Vermillion: Lee Computer Lab (Lee 120):  Nineteen Pentium III workstations are networked in a local area network and through the campus Internet gateway, to the world.  All workstations have CDROM and zip drives, sound cards, and speakers; laser printers and a flatbed scanner are also available. This lab is available to USDSM students 24 hours a day.  Additional computers and resources are located throughout the building and may be available to students by reservation.
Vermillion: Lee Computer Teaching/Testing Lab (Lee 130): Twenty-seven fully equipped Pentium III workstations are available in this laboratory, reserved for teaching and testing requiring computers.
Vermillion: Lommen Health Sciences Library:  Ten Pentium III and two Celeron 750 workstations are available in the library, connected to the campus Ethernet network.  There are 2 email stations also available, and 24 study carrels with data drops which allow users to connect to the campus network.  Vermillion: Technology Literacy Center (TLC) (ID Weeks Library):  Ten networked Pentium workstations using USD’s first wireless network have CDROM, zip drives, video and sound cards; a color desk jet and laser printers, a flatbed scanner, headphones with microphones, and a CD burner are also available.  This multimedia lab offers training and assistance during lab hours, and is available during most library hours.
Sioux Falls: Wegner Health Science Information Center:  A computer classroom has eighteen high-end workstations, with CDROM drives, sound and video cards, laser printer, and LAN and Internet connections.  The classroom may be used as a general use lab when not in use as a classroom.  A six-station lab has similar equipment and resources as well as zip drives.  Fifteen public access workstations are available for the general public. 
Sioux Falls: Multimedia Development Center:  The Wegner Center also has a two station lab with a flat-bed scanner, slide scanner, color printer, and digital editing equipment.
Yankton: Eight Pentium III desktops with T1 Internet access as well as a laser printer and scanner are available at the Education Building, School of Medicine. Two Pentium III desktops and a laser printer are also available for student use at the USDSM Administrative offices. 
Rapid City: Six or more Pentium II and III desktops with T1 Internet access available for student use; a wireless network is in place.  In addition a laser printer, scanner, and two ports for laptop connections are available.

Note: Software needed by School of Medicine faculty and staff can be installed as long as appropriate network licenses have been purchased. A software load request form must be completed and should be forwarded to the USDSM Health Sciences Libraries Technical Services Unit.

Internet Services: The University of South Dakota in Vermillion is connected to the Internet on multiple T1 frame relays and as of April 1999 is an Internet2 participant connecting to that network with OC3 ATM.  USDSM in Sioux Falls is connected to the Internet with a T1 frame relay and to Internet2 with a 5mbps OC3 ATM.  Internet accounts are provided to all students before the academic year begins and are also available to all academic and clinical faculty.  All students and faculty are subscribed to course-based and administrative listservs. Home dialup service is available to students and faculty at contract, discounted rates through Amerion 1-888-707-6800. Cable-Internet is available in Vermillion and DSL and cable in Sioux Falls, but no USD contracts have been negotiated. Check directly with local providers to arrange for cable and DSL Internet access.

Training and Instruction: In addition to medical informatics orientations, a variety of learning opportunities are available to students and faculty.  Clinics in specialized software and applications are available. Internet and office productivity software training sessions are available through the Center for Instructional Design and Delivery in Vermillion (605-677-5411), the Lommen Health Sciences Library in Vermillion (605-677-5121), and the Wegner Health Science Information Center in Sioux Falls (605-357-1400).  For technical assistance with computing, call the University of South Dakota Information Technology Services HelpDesk at 605-677-5028 in Vermillion and 605-357-1330 in Sioux Falls.