Laptop Requirement for Medical Students
1:1 Laptop Initiative for Medical Education
UNC School of Medicine strives to create a comprehensive and responsive technology ecosystem for our students, which includes appropriate hardware for pre-clinical and clinical learning. The actual devices selected will be announced close to the beginning of each level.
For Fall 2025, all first-year medical students will receive a Lenovo laptop. These laptops are being provided to give all students the same level of access to technology that is reliable, secure and managed for use as both a student and clinician. In addition to providing this laptop, we will be providing some modules and resources to help you get the most out of the technology resources being provided to you.
Training
Q&A From Orientation Tech Nuts & Bolts Session
OneNote does not require the Internet to just take notes. It will work off the last synchronized version of your notebook and synchronize any changes when next connected. It is recommended to allow it to sync regularly to have the most up-to-date information. While it is also possible to have local-only notebooks (ones not synchronized to M365), the CoPilot features do not work with these as the information will not be indexed.
Side note: This synchronization allows you to access your OneNote anywhere via browser at https://onenote.com using your Microsoft365 account. This version (like all of the browser-based Microsoft apps) have fewer features than the computer software.
Any files that are provided to you can be added to your personal OneDrive storage to be incorporated into a personalized study guide. The “ + ” button on the Copilot prompt can be used to point directly to a file or folder.
Copilot can identify what is in a picture when pointed to it, but it is not able to search through pictures not featuring a description.
When you insert the PowerPoint into OneNote, it will not be able to search the PowerPoint as inserted because it becomes a graphic with no text data. There is an option to extract the text data from the image if you’d like it included on the notes page.
Most typical document formats can be inserted into OneNote as a “printout” (e.g. PDF, PowerPoint, Word, graphics). Most other formats can also be “attached” as well, where an icon will be placed that links you to the file as stored on your OneDrive.
The agents in Copilot are used to do more specialized and specific tasks in Copilot. Microsoft provides a few for things like Research, Data Analysis, and a Learning Coach.
To disable the Calendar, File Search, and People apps from launching open the Windows Task Manager by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ESC (or search Task Manager on the Search bar). On the left side, click the Startup tab (icon that looks like a speedometer). Right click on the Calendar, File Search, and People apps in the list and select Disable to prevent them from launching on startup. Reboot your computer to confirm.
Side Note: This startup menu is also where you may need to go to disable any apps that you install that conflict with exam software launching.
As a growing technology, we first want you to become comfortable with the basics of using Generative AI generally. Discover ways it can help your productivity and learning. SOM-IT will collaborate with OMSE to provide technical expertise to students as new ways to use AI develop.
- Anything involving clinical or research data should be done exclusively with your provided laptop.
- Exams must be done on the laptops provided.
- If you have existing study tools on other devices that you think would benefit your learning experience, we won’t discourage you from using them, but again we want you to rethink the way you use technology. This laptop and Copilot allow you some new opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Students will receive a Lenovo Thinkpad X1 2-in-1 G10. This is a tablet convertible version of Lenovo’s Carbon line of laptops. A Lenovo Yoga Pen will be included to allow drawing on the screen in tablet mode.
- Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 256V Processor (LPE cores up to 3.70 GHz P-cores up to 4.80 GHz /16 GB MOP)
- Graphics: Integrated Intel® Arc™ Graphics
- Display: 14″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200), IPS, Anti Reflection, Touch, 100%sRGB, 500 nits, 60Hz, Low Power
- Memory: 16 GB LPDDR5X-8533MT/s (Memory on Package)
- Storage: 512 GB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 TLC Opal
- Wireless: Intel® Wi-Fi 7 BE201 2×2 BE vPro® & Bluetooth® 5.4
- Battery: 3 Cell Rechargeable Li-ion 57Wh
Yes, the laptop provided must be used for exams and doing any work featuring clinical data or patient information. As the program becomes more integrated, there may also be software made available that the laptop should be used to run. While you may choose to use other technology to study, we hope you will review the upcoming module on using OneNote and the Office365 environment with Microsoft CoPilot to learn about features that may help you study.
You will have privacy with your device and may use it for personal matters. The method of management, Intune, does allow our IT support staff control over certain settings for Microsoft Windows, but does not allow any access to your personal profile on the computer.
We also recommend you use greater discretion when choosing what to install on the laptop to ensure no software you install interferes with the exam software or compromises the security of your device. Some examples of greater discretion include:
- Not downloading and installing software from third party developers you don’t trust
- Not installing cloud backup/storage solutions other than the Microsoft OneDrive
- Deleting any clinical or patient data you access after you no longer need it
- If you choose to install software for entertainment (messaging apps, Steam, etc.), disable the options for the software to automatically load when the computer starts up
If you have technical problems or your laptop becomes damaged, you can bring your laptop to either the Jenkins Tech Zone on the 2nd floor of Roper Hall or the SOM-IT Walk-in Help Desk at MacNider Hall 137.
Most technical support services are provided at no charge, but there is a $100 deductible for repair services handled by the campus Computer Repair Center.
Laptop distribution will take place during the open house session on July 23. More information will be provided closer to that date.
We will be tracking your feedback on the laptops and this pilot and will ask you to complete a survey to receive the laptop. We will provide more information about this survey closer to the distribution.
Questions?
Laptop Inquiries
Use the form below to ask questions about the UNC School of Medicine laptop requirements.