Academic Application: Elsevier Evolve

Summary

Learn how Elsevier Evolve connects Elsevier digital course materials and supported tools to Brightspace so instructors can assign activities and students can access learning content with grade passback for supported work.

Body

Jump to: Overview | Getting Started / Quick Start | How-To Guides & Related Articles

Overview

What is it?

Elsevier Evolve is the central access portal and digital learning ecosystem for Elsevier's nursing and health professions educational products. Faculty and students access Elsevier eTextbooks, online course resources, and digital learning tools through their Villanova Brightspace course link or directly at evolve.elsevier.com

Key Elsevier products available through Evolve include:

Sherpath / Sherpath Vantage: Elsevier's integrated course solution combining an eTextbook with interactive digital lessons, adaptive quizzing (EAQ), and a suite of assignment types. Sherpath AI provides an in-platform AI assistant sourced from Elsevier's evidence-based content library.

Elsevier eTextbooks (VitalSource): Elsevier eTextbooks accessible through the Evolve portal or the VitalSource Bookshelf app (iOS, Android, desktop).

Who is it for?

Faculty: Use Evolve Link to deploy Elsevier content (Sherpath lessons, Shadow Health simulations, HESI practice, eTextbook links) directly into your Villanova Brightspace course. Monitor student progress and assign graded activities with automatic grade passback to the Brightspace gradebook.

Students: Access Elsevier eTextbooks, Sherpath interactive lessons, Shadow Health virtual patient simulations, and HESI practice exams through your Villanova Brightspace course link or directly at evolve.elsevier.com.

Access

Through the Evolve Link inside your Villanova Brightspace course, or directly at evolve.elsevier.com using your Elsevier Evolve account. For graded activities (Shadow Health, HESI, Sherpath EAQ), always launch from the Brightspace course link to ensure grade passback functions correctly.

Authentication

Separate Elsevier Evolve account required. Faculty and students create an Evolve account at evolve.elsevier.com using their Villanova email address. After account creation, Evolve Link connects the Evolve account to Brightspace via SSO subsequent sessions use the Brightspace course link.

LMS Integration

Brightspace (D2L)

Cost

Cost to students for access varies by course and adoption model. Please see the textbook access program page for more information: https://www.villanova.edu/university/teacher-scholars/about/textbook-access.html

Availability

Available for courses using an adopted Elsevier title. Different Elsevier products (Sherpath, Shadow Health, HESI, eTextbooks) may require separate license activation.

Vendor

Elsevier (a division of RELX Group) — evolve.elsevier.com

Managed By

Individual faculty (course setup), with support from Learning Technologies and the Elsevier representative for Villanova

Getting Started / Quick Start

Faculty / Instructor Setup

Contact your Elsevier representative or register at evolve.elsevier.com using your Villanova email to create an instructor account and activate your adopted title's course content.
In Brightspace: go to Content > Add Existing > External Tool Activity > Evolve Link. Click the newly created item [Evolve Link]. The Evolve Link tool opens browse your course content, click 'Create Link' next to the desired assignment or resource, copy the generated URL, and paste it as a new LTI External Link in Brightspace with a descriptive title. A full video is available at https://evolve.elsevier.com/education/training/evolve-link/adding-evolve-content-to-brightspace-by-d2l/
For graded Evolve activities (Shadow Health, EAQ), confirm grade columns are created in the Brightspace gradebook. Use Student Preview to test links and verify grade passback before the semester begins.

Student Setup

Create an Elsevier Evolve account at evolve.elsevier.com using your Villanova email. Click the Evolve Link or Shadow Health link in your Villanova Brightspace course, your Evolve account will be linked automatically.
Activate your course content using the access code from the Villanova Bookstore, a direct purchase at evolve.elsevier.com, or through Inclusive Access if your course uses that delivery model.
Access Sherpath lessons, Shadow Health simulations, HESI practice exams, and eTextbooks through the Brightspace course links. For Shadow Health, always launch from the Brightspace link for grades to sync to your gradebook.

How-To Guides & Related Articles

Vendor Resources

Get Help

For Elsevier product support, contact Elsevier directly at service.elsevier.com

Details

Article ID: 161912

Created

Thu 5/7/26 3:00 PM

Modified

Mon 6/8/26 1:26 PM

Related Services / Offerings

Related Services / Offerings (2)

Brightspace Integrations (LTIs)

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