ARIES FAQ
Accessibility
Q: Is there a text to speech option for ARIES?
A: This is an enhancement request, for Disability Services
Advising
Q: Who should use the “Allow to Register” button?
A: SHPS must use it. All SHPS students must be advised before registration. LAPS and STEM can use it to update the date of last advisement but students are not held from registration.
Q: Should I archive the student plan each time that I meet with the student?
A: Recommendation - yes - that way, you will have the updated plan available, for reference.
ARIES General
Q: What will still be available in WebAdvisor, starting on November 1?
A: Faculty will still use WebAdvisor for withdrawals, grading, gradebook, and retention cases. The WebAdvisor system will be retired for the Spring 2022 semester.
Q: Will we get record locks with ARIES?
A: No, unless two or more are attempting the same process simultaneously.
Q: Does it matter what kind of computer we use for ARIES?
A: No, the system can be used on desktops, laptops, macs, and Chromebooks. The system is accessible through the college’s web site.
Q: What else will change soon, in ARIES?
A: Enhancements and updates may be made quarterly; IT staff will share information in advance of any changes.
Q: With bumping back and forth between screens, will we max out on our “cookies?”
A: Yes. Sometimes you may need to clear your browser cookies.
Q: Can the education plans be pre-populated with planned courses?
A: This is an enhancement request, to be completed in the near future.
Classes
Q: If a course is offered as a pair (science and lab, or English and philosophy), will ARIES users see this?
A: Yes - there will be “yellow” messages indicating the course has prerequisites or corequisites.
Q: If a student needs a humanities (or other transferable) elective, how can that be completed?
A: In courses and sections filter results, the user can select MA Transfer electives.
Q: How can we drop a class?
A: View Schedule, calendar/ list - can drop one at a time, or multiple classes simultaneously, as long as still within the registration or add/drop period.
Q: What if the student is not certain about semester 1, semester 2, or full semester class options?
A: In advanced register, by sections, use the start/end date, not the actual semester, to see all options within the general semester.
Q: If we are advising after the advising period, what is different?
A: Student/ faculty can add to the cart, and/or register immediately.
Q: What happens when you drop a class section?
A: System will leave the class as planned.
Course Evaluation
Q: How will we know what IP, R, etc., codes are in Program Evaluation?
A: ARIES program evaluation spells out the codes, will see “in progress, completed,” and other descriptive labels to classes; PR is a Program Retake.
Courses
Q: Can we have all ENG, DWT, DWR courses in one listing?
A: Not available
Education Plan
Q: Can the education plans be pre-populated with planned courses?
A: Not there yet
Q: If you add terms, how do they appear?
A: Chronologically, By default, all Spring and Fall will appear for first semester students. For current students, you can add additional terms as needed, including Winter, Summer on own, and will appear as would in a calendar.
Q: Can I email my advisees?
A: Yes, by copy the list onto the clipboard, and then paste into To/ Cc/ Bcc address line of gmail. The WebAdvisor email advisees/ roster list were customized screens; new version will utilize gmail instead.
Q: Which email addresses are visible in ARIES
A: The @student.stcc.edu, @stcc.edu addresses, only.
Enhancement Request
Q: Can the Advanced Search option be the default view?
A: Yes. Advanced Search then Section Listing are now the default views.
Q Can there be a waitlist to see if students want a full class, and then have a report produced to show the number of students who have a course planned in the cart, but that is full?
A: This is an enhancement request.
Faculty
Q: How can faculty get name, email, and ID, for roster, class seating, SI Leadership program, etc.?
A: Faculty roster has an Export to .csv feature; opens nicely in Excel.
Getting Assistance
Is there any ARIES support information on the library website? The faculty/ advisors documentation is included in the CODL web site. We can request a link from the Library to the CODL web site. The student documentation will be placed - to be determined.
Q: Where can I find the ARIES support information?
A: The faculty/ advisors documentation is included on this page on the CODL web site. Links to this site will be available from on the IT and Library resources web sites.
Q: If a student has taken a challenge test, but has not yet paid for it, what shows in ARIES?
A: Until the student pays for the exam and credits, it will not show in ARIES.
Q: What does the IT Help Desk know about the ARIES system, and training?
A: They will assist with login issues and will direct students to the ARIES online help areas.
Students Question on course canceled -
Q: If a course is canceled, will the student automatically get notified?
A: This is an enhancement request.
Q: Is it possible to get pictures in the course list download?
A: Yes, the student pictures, if available, will appear on the advisee list.
Grades
Q: Do Fresh Start courses show up on transfer summary, or just program evaluation?
A: Fresh Start courses show on the Ed Plan, Program Evaluation, and the Transfer Summary.
Q: Where will an Incomplete grade show in the ARIES system?
A: Go to Advisee Details then Grades. They are also reflected on the Program Evaluation.
Q: If a student has taken a challenge test, but has not yet paid for it, what shows in ARIES?
A: Pending? Not there yet
Holds, Notifications
Q: Where will we see holds, notifications for students
A: In the advising details screen, these will either be in the upper right-hand corner, in a red box, or in the Notifications section, just above the menu options (Schedule, Ed Plan, etc.).
IT Help Desk
Q: What does the IT Help Desk know about the ARIES system, and training?
A: Not there yet
Notes
Q: Can students add Notes?
A: Yes, as can faculty and advisors. All can see everyone’s notes
Open Educational Resources (OER)
Q: Can we filter on OER courses?
A: Not there yet; will be part of the filter.
Other Buttons
Q: What are the approve/ deny buttons used for?
A: These are not currently being used.
Staff
Q: Should the Registrar's staff have Advising access?
A: They have been granted access.
Q: Can the Registrar’s Office staff see notes, Archived plans?
A: Yes. Notes and Archived Plans are available to staff/faculty with the Advising chicklet.
Q: What if staff do not have access to WebAdvisor, since they use Datatel/ Colleague instead?
A: Supervisors should request ARIES access through the HelpDesk. An ARIES Request for Access form is in development.
Students
Q: When will students be trained?
A: A pilot group was trained in mid-October; open training sessions for students begin at 2 p.m. on October 25, 2021 (taped, virtual, 02/401), through the Survive and Thrive program
Q: What will undeclared students see?
A: Since they have no program, so no program evaluation, they can use courses and sections to select courses
Q: If a course is canceled, will the student automatically get notified?
A:
Q: Can students edit their own Education program?
A: Yes! Students can add to their plan, move courses around; if the student has a section posted, the section must be deleted, and a new section selected; courses not tied to sections can be moved or deleted.
Q: Is it possible to get pictures in the course list download
A: VPN?
Q: Do students get emailed when their plan is archived?
A: No
Q: Can a student request a plan review?
A: Yes
Q: How will a student know if a course is OER?
A: Currently, in course comments and in bookstore information.
Q: How will students know there is a course conflict?
A: Will show up as red comment on the schedule/ plan; will have to be resolved before student completes the registration process (empties the cart).
Q: How will students be trained on the ARIES system?
A: Through the Survive and Thrive program, October 25, 2021; student planning for students will open on November 3, 2021.
Q: What time does registration open?
A: At midnight, on the date listed in the academic calendar
Q: What if a student wants to withdraw from a class?
A: There is a blue link on student’s screen, that will go to WebAdvisor for a withdrawal. This will be throughout the Fall 2021 semester.
Q: If students change their schedule, will the advisor know?
A: This is part of Communications Management; Advisors who have opted in will still receive email notification.
Q: Where is the student’s address found?
A: Hover over student’s picture, and click on student profile button. Click Close or “X” to close student profile screen.
Q: Can students make changes to schedules after a plan is archived?
A: Yes - but there will be an electronic trail to indicate what the plan looked like at the last advisor meeting. Recommendation - have the students click on the "request review" button so that the advisor can review the changes.
Test scores
Q: Where can I find the information from the TSUM screen in WebAdvisor?
A: In the Transfer menu tab.
WebAdvisor
Q: Can we use WebAdvisor for advising in the Fall 2021 semester?
A: For the advising period that starts on November 1, 2021, faculty, advisors will use the ARIES system; the WebAdvisor system will not be available for advising or registration for classes offered beyond the fall 2021 semester.
"WebAdvisor Faculty"
Q: Will WebAdvisor totally disappear in November, 2021?
A: No! Faculty will still use WebAdvisor for Excessive Absence Withdrawals, Grading, Class Attendance Verification and other non-advising tasks until the Winter?Spring 2022. Some tools in WebAdvisor, such as Retention/ Case Alert, are in the test mode, and should be transitioned to ARIES in the Spring 2022 semester.