They said it couldn't be done, it was impossible to incorporate with this format. We were told it was a casualty of the "upgrade." The graphic schedule was gone forever and it's format not compatible with the "new ACES." Then, they said maybe, just maybe, they could find a way with such high demand to bring it back. And after two months of waiting, the graphic schedule has magically appeared.
At first glance, I say "well done" for (at least partially) listening to student demands regarding ACES. Then, I get to thinking... if it wasn't impossible in the first place (since clearly they've managed it now), then why was it missing to begin with. The only answer that can come to mind of why the, perhaps, most popular feature of old (good) ACES was missing from the downgraded "new ACES," is that the programmers and designers cut corners. They built a bare-bones system to save time and money, it was like the bar I built sophomore year... worthy as a counter, and kinda cool, but nothing compared to if we had put in the hinged door and a rail, perhaps some stools. So if they cut corners there but managed to bring it back, is the rest of it salvageable too? Maybe they can get rid of the ten thousand hyperlinks and make menus more user-friendly, maybe they can get rid of the flashing "working..." in the upper right corner. Maybe they can make it compatible with resolutions beyond 1024x768, maybe they can even make enrolling in classes simple again.
But then again, it took two months to get a picture loaded onto the site, perhaps the freshmen better pick up this fight, I'll be long gone before any real progress is made. Although one step better, ACES is still unacceptable as a student information service or system.
Danny Mistarz
Pratt '09
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