Kathi Groenendyk - Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Professor: Kathi Groenendyk

Department: Communication

College: Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CAS305
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've had several classes with her and she's fantastic. Super clear with what she expects and uses class time very wisely. I always feel like I walk out having learned/better understood something. Highly recommend taking her classes. She's a lot of fun and always reachable whenever needed!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CAS305
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I loved this class. I was super nervous taking a 300 level class for the first time, but she is a great prof. I normally don't like reading and don't do it. there are 3 books you read for this class, the first book I could not put down it was so good. The next two were okay, and I was thankful for the summaries at the end of the chapter.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CAS305
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is an extremely tough grader but really wants her students to do well. She gives very thorough feedback and really helps you learn the material. You definitely have to work for an A on the exams and the final paper but she is extremely clear on what she expects from you. It is definitely not impossible to get an A it just takes work

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CAS305
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Groenendyk gives a lot of work, but she's very kind and approachable. I got a C on one exam, went to talk to her about it, and I walked out with a B. There's a lot of work to do (especially reading), so be prepared to participate in group discussions.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CAS305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was extremely difficult. Her tests are terrible and she has multiple choice worth 4 points each so good luck. The class was extremely boring and had awful and outdated books to read.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CAS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof Groenendyk is very helpful and clear. The workload for the class is very manageable, and all the work that you do actually helps your learning. She does a good job of teaching you a lot, without overloading you with work. This class is fantastic.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CAS238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hardest. Grader. Ever. Don't ever plan on getting A's. I'm a straight-A student and didn't get an A on a single thing in this class. Not ONE.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CAS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Average class, average prof. its core, so whatever.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CAS238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She was alright. She tried to use different teaching methods each day to help various people learn well. But idk, I just never really felt inspired or educated after this class. Just confused and nervous. Her multiple choice are KILLER. Study hard. As for help and DO exactly what she says.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CAS238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was terrible. I don't feel like I learned anything worth learning, and the tests were hard. She's nice, but can be very unclear... she uses SO many nominalizations and obnixiously fluffy language. I hear she's a great ADVISER but she's not an outstanding prof.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HRCAS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The textbook we used was basically a liberal propaganda book, but the reading wasn't really necessary to get a decent grade. Groenendyk is a mediocre teacher, but she tries hard and as long as you just follow her advice--no matter how wrong it is--you can get a pretty good grade.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

She aims to come across as competent, perfect in instruction, and helpful-- she's successful about half of the time in each category. I've had her for two classes. She's the kind of prof. that gets you worked up about silly details that can really hurt your grade. Boring and weak lecturing. Though she's nice and means well, I'd stay away.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CAS141
• 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:

The class is very student led, participation is crucial. You do have to do one speach, but its graded mostly on how you use visuals. She's very nice and helpful but an unpredictable grader. I thought I'd get an A+ but ended up with a B-, strange.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CAS238
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Overall, I enjoyed her class. She let us handle classroom discussions, and ran class as if we were equals, not teacher-students. I enjoyed her class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CAS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

not fun. dont take her. she makes you do like 6 speeches when some of the other ones only make you do two or three

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CAS270
• 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:

She is a really nice prof. Some of the classes are kind of worthless, but overall, it is a pretty laid back class. You can get away with not doing any of the readings, but it is overall a good class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CAS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

dont buy the book! SUCH a waste of money. shes not that easy, not that hard. my speeches for her lacked personality, i didnt like it. i dont recomend her

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CAS270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

We had a lot of discussions about gender issues, some based off our own writings and others based off her lectures. Prepare to be challenged in your views of gender; I was and loved it. This class gave me so much more to think about in regards to gender. Great class, good prof.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CAS141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CAS140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Wow, terrible teacher. You can do little work and get a decent grade, but you have to put up with this woman for a semester. Avoid her, I wanted to write the department.