The OHSU School of Nursing relies on the use of computer technologies for student learning activities and testing, both in the classroom and online using the Internet.

Generally, all students must have a laptop and bring it to class for use in electronic examinations and other course-related activities. Students must be comfortable with the condition of their laptops and their ability to maintain battery power for four hours.

NOTE: Program directors and Campus Associate Deans may modify the laptop requirement for their program or campus. Students should check with their specific program or campus for any exceptions to the laptop requirement. Currently, students in the following programs may elect a desktop computer instead of a laptop if a desktop better suits their needs. 

• Online RN to BS
• MNE
• HSOL

OHSU policies

All students must comply with all OHSU policies and directives related to information security and privacy. Review our Acceptable Use policy. Information, Security, and Privacy training conducted online annually is required for all faculty, staff, students, and volunteers.

More information on all OHSU policies is located at https://o2.ohsu.edu/institutional-policies.cfm. (OHSU account required to access)

Social media guidelines

OHSU School of Nursing student posts, tweets and photos need to follow the code of conduct, HIPAA and the rights and responsibilities outlined in the student handbook. Violations of the social media guidelines or code of conduct may be grounds for disciplinary action and or dismissal.

Students should know:

• Posting information referencing a patient's name or specific clinical site may violate HIPAA.
• Posting photos from a clinical site may be a violation.
• The OHSU Code of Conduct requires that students report violators to School of Nursing faculty/ administrators- The OHSU Code of Conduct
• HIPAA 

The School of Nursing is currently a Microsoft Windows environment. Software required for some courses may not come in a Mac version, or there may be differences in functionality between the two versions. Students choosing to use a Mac will still be responsible for meeting all course assignments and requirements.

WIN OS versions Windows 10 22H2, Windows 11 22H2, and Windows 11 23H2 are recommended and currently supported by ExamSoft. Please see ExamSoft’s website for specifics about types of processors and Windows environments that are supported. https://examsoft.com/resources/examplify-minimum-system-requirements/#2…;

MAC OS versions 13.x (Ventura), 14.x (Sonoma), and 15.x (Sequoia) are recommended and is currently supported by ExamSoft.  Apple typically releases a new OS version each Fall. Please note that older or newer OS versions may not work with Examplify software, which is required for courses using our online testing provided by ExamSoft.

Netbooks and Chromebooks provide access to the Internet and keep people connected to the web and email. However, they are underpowered and may not be supported by our online testing platform. Therefore, these devices are not an acceptable alternative to our laptop requirement.

Tablets and other mobile devices provide easy and instant access to information, digital media, and the Internet. Such devices include eReaders/Kindles, Apple iOS devices (iPod touch, iPad, and iPhone), and Android devices (tablets & phones). These devices may be unable to run required software or store files in a way that allows full engagement in classroom activities.

♦ While the School of Nursing encourages innovation and using these devices where possible, they are not an acceptable alternative to our laptop requirement.

Microsoft Office

 Microsoft O365 provides excellent application access, integration and collaboration in the online environment. Use the application launcher in every app to navigate between apps. You may log in to www.office.com using your OHSU email address. While we recommend O365 online, the Microsoft Office desktop applications are available for students who wish to download and install them. More information can be found on O2.

Apple office applications (Pages, Keynote and Numbers), Google products, OpenOffice, and Corel WordPerfect are among the unacceptable alternatives to Microsoft Office for collaborative work. Faculty and other students must be able to open your documents without the need to convert or install additional non-standard software on their computers.

Microsoft Outlook

OHSU provides an e-mail and network account for all currently enrolled students. We use Microsoft Exchange for e-mail and calendars. Students are required to use and regularly check the OHSU-provided e-mail account to receive critical student updates. OHSU units like financial aid, billing, and registrar, along with program faculty and staff, will communicate important student information to the OHSU e-mail address only.

Accessibility

• OHSU e-mail may be accessed through a standard web browser (http://mail.ohsu.edu) or the OHSU remote access portal (http://portal.ohsu.edu).
• OHSU e-mail may be accessed on mobile devices such as Apple iPhones and iPads or Android-based phones and tablets using the Boxer app or by enrolling the device in Airwatch Intelligent Hub.

Email Distribution Lists

Cohort-specific e-mail lists exist to communicate specifically with OHSU student groups within the School of Nursing. Inclusion in these lists is not optional and students need to receive permission from their program before sending emails to these lists.

The School of Nursing delivers many online courses using synchronous and asynchronous delivery technologies. Students participating in online courses are required to have the following;

• Web cameras
• USB headsets with microphones
• Internet connection speeds greater than 5 mb/s.

For hybrid courses, OHSU Nexus is used most often. Traditional or VOIP/Internet telephone services are highly recommended over the use of cell phones for classroom audio if there are issues with internet.

Students participating in online courses should plan to join the conference a few minutes before the scheduled start time to test the audio/video connection and resolve any issues that may arise so classes may start on time.

DUO Mobile
OHSU uses DUO Mobile for two-factor authentication when logging in to most OHSU systems from off-campus. Students must download the DOU Mobile App to their smartphone or tablet. A DUO keychain device that generates a DUO code is available for students who do not have a smartphone or have an older smartphone that does not meet the requirements for DUO Mobile.

Cloud Services

Only vendors with whom OHSU have a business level agreement may be used for OHSU business. Currently, OHSU utilizes the Microsoft O365 platform.  Popular services such as Google, Amazon, and Apple are not approved. 

File Storage

OHSU students should use their Microsoft OneDrive account to securely store files. OneDrive allows individuals to share files and folders with others at OHSU. When the O365 applications are used with files stored in OneDrive, multiple people can work together at the same time to allow real-time collaboration.

Secure Email
Email sent between OHSU accounts is secure. Email sent outside of OHSU is not. When sending emails outside of OHSU that contain sensitive, confidential, or restricted information, start the subject line with Secure:, and the message will be routed through our secure server. The intended recipient is notified that a message is waiting and is provided instructions for securely receiving your communication.