John Vivian - Winona State University, Winona, MN

Professor: John Vivian

Department: Communication

College: Winona State University, Winona, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MCOM30501
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I clicked 'yeah' on textbook use but only barely. The text covers Media history in America, right up to the present. But we never got past the late 1700's. Mr Vivian posted one-question quizzes each day, anywhere between 1 and 6, and asked for one-sentence replies. He also grades down for punctuation as though his history class is an English class

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MCOM300
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I took two online classes with John Vivian, Mass Communication of Law and History of Mass Communication. There was a textbook for each course but I never ended up using them as the answers are on his D2L. His online classes are SUPER easy! I recommend them for someone who is not a Mass Comm major but needs to take an elective. Super Easy.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MCOM300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I don't know why he is even considered a professor. You read the things he posts on D2L and then answer the questions he emails you every week. This class is a joke. No syllabus was given, and no instructions were given as to the point and end goal of this class. Vivian either doesn't care at all, or has no idea what he's doing.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MCOM100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He wrote the textbook & it 's all online. You show up to lecture, he talks for 30 min then gets tired so you leave. He emails questions relating to the lecture and you have to answer to get participation points, but they are difficult. Each week an online quiz is due from the book, so how well you do on those determines your grade. No final.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MCOM100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Vivian's class structure is basically non-existent. There was no syllabus given at the start of the semester so you have no idea how your grade is broken down. I recommend if you sit in the front of the class and ask questions frequently. He seems to base your grade off of effort and attendance in class. If you can, avoid taking Vivian.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MCOM232
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Class consisted mostly of exercises sent via email. Has a polarizing reputation. Textbook is mandatory. Demands hard work and respect from his students. Do not take him unless you like journalism. Despite difficulty, objectively improved my writing and gave good feedback. Very personable when sought out for advice during office hours.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MCOM300
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I had Prof John Vivian from 1990 to 1993. The man is a tough cookie but believe me you will learn a lot from him if you can get the best of him. The writing skills I learnt from him have helped me throughout my career. He liked me a lot because I tried my best. I even won a State award for investigative journalism under his guidance.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MCOM305
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Yes, he expects a lot and is a tough grader but rate him poorly because he demands correct grammar use in a course with a Writing Intensive flag? Sometimes his feedback is cryptic, but students need a dose of reality. Learn to adapt to different people and situations to earn success in the real world. Your future boss isn't going to spoon feed you.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MCOM305
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It says no definitives but I would NEVER recommend this prof. to anyone EVER. He is rude, condescending, and speaks to you like a child. Grammar not 100% perfect? No points. Assignments through email. Only redeeming factor is that he gives you the opportunity to re-do the assignments you failed. If I could give him a 0 rating, I would.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MCOM305
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Horrible teacher, one of those classic "better then you" profs that knows allot and is not afraid to belittle you. Will want answers in his language, and will dock points heavily for Grammer errors and wording not up to his crazy high standards. Stay away even in an online only class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MCOM300
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you don't give him the exact wording that he has in mind for a question you will get 1/5 on every assignment. Everything is through email, spent at least 2 hours a day reading and doing assignments, was called an idiot and a horrible student multiple times for simply not phrasing my sentence how he would have. Would absolutely never take again.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MCOM220
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's not only a horrible professor, but a horrible person. It seems that he gets a joy out of ruining people's days with his rude comments. He is sexist against girls and hates PR majors. He has called students worthless and unintelligent. He loses your work then blames you for never turning it in. If he doesn't like you he will fail you.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dont ever take a class with Vivian. Avoid at all costs. He is rude, cranky, and will purposely embarrass you in front of the whole class. He has the weirdest grading scale, 80% is a C. Pop Quizzes almost every day, but quizzes dont make sense and they don't affect your grade.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MCOM300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He definitely knows what he is talking about and that is the one good thing about the class. Other than that, you have a daily quiz which everyone fails, he gives you a final academic journal to write but never talks about it other than the first day of class, he is hard to approach for help. Overall I would for sure take another teacher.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MCOM232
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Vivian is very approachable, and his classes are fairly laid back. Homework is participation based and always sent through email. You will have to travel places for this course. Don't need textbook. Pay attention during class and seem interested, and he'll like you, even if you're not that great a writer. Vivian can be condescending at times.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MCOM300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Vivian is very passionate about MCOM and is very approachable. He is one of my favorite professors in the program.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MCOM300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He gives a quiz everyday, most if not every person fails it. He then gives them back (scantron) and he does not write down your grade. The points you get/don't get on the quizzes do not matter, in the end, he will give what he wants you to give regardless of your actual point total. He doesn't go to office hours, try to talk to him after class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MCOMM232
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

First he canceled about 5 classes which is a lot since we only had class T TH. He is the hardest grader and contradicts himself. He is extremely hard headed. Wish i took a different teacher. Seriously dont take him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MCOM332
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I had him for News Gathering and instead of assigning us to interview people for our articles he had us go to Youtube and write articles on the political campaign candidates. He also tried canceling class for the entire semester thinking we could just contact him through e-mail. In the end the dean removed the class from my transcript. DONT TAKE!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MCOM305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I wouldnt recommend this professor to anyone, unless you are willing to put alot of time into it. The class is unstructured and the quizes are very difficult.