Billie Berends - Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, MI

Professor: Billie Berends

Department: Communication

College: Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COM131
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Show up early she will start talking 30 - 45 minutes before class. Really nice and easy is you just talk to her about your concerns.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CO131
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I took Ms. B for a summer accelerated course. She does rant on a lot about stuff not related to the class but overall she is a very knowledgeable woman. She wants all her students to succeed and will let you re-do assignments if you need to. She doesn't clarify all the assignments but will help if you ask.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CO131
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Don't take her. She is legit insane. She is an easy A, but trust me when I say it's not worth the grade. She will drive you crazy. Twice she held us 30 minutes after the class was supposed to end to make up for the time she had wasted during class going on irrelevant tangents about how she could cure cancer and migraines. Literally take anyone else

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CO131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She tends to get off topic a lot, but the discussions we have gotten into in class are interesting to be apart of. She wants you to do great and will help with anything you need help with. You will always stay the entire class time and usually don't make it through the things on your to do this, but overall she is great and you will enjoy her class

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: COM131
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Easiest A but you have to be willing to risk your sanity. She talks about irrelevant material 97% of the time and scolds you for not taking notes. She'll tell you 100 stories of past student success stories. I learned more about her than speech itself. She'll making getting an A sound hard, but show up and negotiate every grade and it will happen.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: COM131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Dropped the class the very first day because I couldn't stand to be in a room with her. Talks in circles (that's a popular one), does NOT shut up and does not give off an impression of intelligence. Talks about anything BUT speech in the class. I would not recommend taking any of her classes unless you like wasting lecture time with side subjects.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COM131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

My biggest issue with this class was lack of clarity. She had a tendency to talk in circles, eyes wide, saying, "your pens should be flying off that page right now" Also, whenever I or a fellow student tried asking a question about the assignment, she would firstly shame us for even asking a question and tell us to 'look in the course packet'

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CLS102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Billie Sue Berends made an impression on me. In the first week of class she had told the class of her previous students. One student realized and told Ms. B that she had cared more about his grade than he did himself. She has such a huge heart. As long as you talk to her she will most likely give you a second chance. Loved her!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: COM131
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Berends is a unique type of person. She has accomplished a lot in her lifetime and is very inspirational. She pushes you to challenge yourself and expects her students to act like college students. I went into the class terrified of speaking in public and now I have learned to be very comfortable! Professor Berends is very understanding

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CLS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I was in this class to learn how to become a model student and she whipped me into shape by caring and sharing valuable insights. She allowed me to grow and appreciated me as a person and took extra time to help me understand my weaknesses as a student. I was close to dropping out and now I am soaring like an eagle.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COM131
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Best instructor I have ever had. She just sparkles. Keeps the class alive, positive, never a dull moment. My favorite class and I was horrified to get up and speak in front of a group. She has so many wonderful techniques to make the class comfortable and soon I couldn't wait to get up. I even started volunteering first.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: COM131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Ms. B. goes so far out of her way to assist her students. She has over 40 years of experience. Most importantly, she cares that her students do well and learn.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COM131
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

this story needs to be told. I overslept and missed my final exam. The next day i called Ms. B and she didn't pick up. she called me around 830 after her last final. she waited for me to arrive at 9:10 and let me take my exam, and she helped me through it.She was very understanding and helpful, Thank you Ms.B

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CLS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Ms. B was by far the most interesting professor I have ever had. What you see is what you get and that will be wonderful insights into each subject you will study. She shared knowledge, experiences and tools that I believe will stay with me long after I'm done with school. Consider yourself lucky if you get to have her as a professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CLS100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is very fun to watch, she has great incite about things. She understands that school is not the only thing you have going on. She kept me interested in every class I was with her in. I really loved her as a teacher, and I look up to her now as a friend.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COM131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very easy to follow and helpful. Also very patient; very nice and enthusiastic. I learned a lot,it was a pleassure taking this class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: COS126
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Billie Berends encourages critical thinking, learn and develop. She challenges you to go beyond the mundane to establish the mind-set of maturity as college students to produce on your highest level. She thinks with excellence in what she expects from you. Ms B is a professional. I appreciate her help. I am a better communicator. Cheryl

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COM131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She talks in complete circles and she is extremely unorganized. You will leave class every day with a headache unless you have the same kind of personality flaw as she does.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: COM131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Ms. B is a high-spirited teacher with great speaking skills that she teaches both by teaching and by example. She helped me a ton at the end of the semester to keep my gpa at it's highest potential. She is a great person, as well as professor.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: COMM131
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She will talk in circles until you have lost track of where you are. She will not slow down or review information with you unless you call her. She has lots and lots of rules. Great class environment but forget trying to understand what the heck she's talking about.