We are thrilled to share the details about our Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) and how it can significantly enhance your teaching and learning experience.
What is the VCL?
The VCL is a powerful service designed to provide faculty, staff, and students 24×7 access to computing resources usually restricted to on-campus classrooms and labs. This allows students to complete their assignments and projects at any time and location that best suits their life circumstances without the need to travel to and physically access campus facilities. Faculty from all VCCS colleges can also better collaborate on common programs and coursework for our students across all corners of the Commonwealth. PCs, MacBooks, Chromebooks, iPads, and most online devices can be used to access the Virtual Computing Lab.
How to Access the VCL
Accessing the VCL is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Login: Visit your college portal at https://my.vccs.edu/and log in using your college credentials.
- Select the Virtual Computing Lab tile from within your portal.
- Select a VM: Choose the appropriate virtual machine template for your course.
- Connect: Follow the on-screen instructions to connect to the VM. Detailed user guides and video tutorials are available here: Article – Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) (vccs.edu)
What Do I Have Access To
Below is a comprehensive list of software and operating system platforms on the Virtual Computer Lab (VCL). This includes software titles that require named user licensing and those that students, faculty, and staff can access freely. Any software not requiring a named user license is available for unrestricted use. The list covers various virtual machines and software environments, including operating systems, development tools, and specialized applications tailored to multiple academic disciplines.
- Active-HDL – Windows 11
- Adobe Creative Cloud – Windows 10
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- Requires named user license provided by college.
- ArcGIS Pro – Windows 10
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- Requires named user license provided by college
- AutoCAD and Inventor – Windows 10
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- Requires named user license provided by college
- Cisco Packet Tracer – Windows 10
- Digital Logic Designer – Windows 10
- DNA Master – Windows 10
- Electrical Engineering Technology – Windows 11
- LTspice – Windows 10
- Math Applications – Windows 10
- Matlab 2022a – Windows 10
- Matlab 2024a – Windows 11
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- Requires named user license provided by college
- Microchip Studio – Windows 10
- Office 2021 – Windows 10
- Office 2021 – Windows 11
- Office 365 – Windows 11
- Power BI – Windows 10
- Programming and Dev Environment – Windows 10
- RedHat 8 Base
- SPSS – Windows 10
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- Restricted by number of concurrent users, maximum is 200 (VPCC has priority).
- Vivado 2018 – Windows 10
- Vivado 2024 – Windows 11
- Web Development Platform – RedHat 8
- Windows 10 Base
- Windows 11 Base
Requesting Additional Resources
If you require specific software or additional VMs for your course, please follow these steps:
- Submit a Request: Fill out the request form available at Service – Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) (vccs.edu).
- Specify Requirements: Detail the software and configurations needed.
- Approval and Setup: Our IT team will review your request and promptly set up the necessary resources.
Training and Support
We understand that some faculty members or students may need additional assistance to get started. Here’s how we’re supporting you:
- User Guides and Training Materials: Access comprehensive guides and video tutorials Article – Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) (vccs.edu).
- Local Support Contacts: Each college has designated local support contacts trained to assist you. To find your local contact, submit a ticket to your local college IT helpdesk.
- Training Sessions: We plan to hold large-scale webinars for faculty and students across the system. Dates and times will be announced soon.
- Hands-on Training for Faculty: It is critical that faculty who will leverage the VCL go through the process of using the system so they can demonstrate it in class or over Zoom to their students. Faculty should reference the KB articles, videos, and other training materials provided.
Future Support and Best Practices
Once you start using the VCL, you’ll find it intuitive and requires minimal ongoing support. Many faculty members naturally become local experts and help onboard new colleagues.
Collaborative Opportunities
In the future, we aim to form a software licensing and solutions team across participating colleges. This team will explore shared software licensing opportunities, cost savings, and collaborative course material development. This initiative will commence after the initial rollout of the VCL.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or suggestions.