Russ Penner - Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY

Professor: Russ Penner

Department: Mathematics

College: Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MA108
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's cool

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MA90
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a very good teacher!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MA125
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Class was mostly working through math problems together. There was homework due once a week, and several prepped-for tests. He really knew his stuff and seemed very patient. If we all did badly on a test he added another one to help us understand the material. I learned a lot, but don't expect him to entertain you. He sticks to the math.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MA151
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

People seem not to like Penner because of his style of teaching. This is my third class talking with him and over the years, he's by far my favorite go to professor if I need help with something. What I want from other students is that if you take him, PLEASE do extra work in problems and go to him if you're stuck. if not, then you will struggle.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MA115
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This professor never explained very well id go home always confused. Then when id do my homework it was easier then listening to his lectures.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MA152
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Calc 2 is a bear, so keep that in mind. He is soft spoken and at times mumbles to himself so make sure you sit close to the front so you can hear him. Practice and Practice because there is a lot of material and you only do a few problems in class. He mentions the site 17calculus, pretty helpful. Not a lot of inclass work. Does the harder problems

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MA125
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Yet another class with this man! Great guy, and hopefully he can be my calculus professor in the future!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MA115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He's simply the best math professor I've ever had! He made me changed my major from Geology to Math :) Gives out extra credit!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MA115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I hate math! Class was 5hrs 4days a week,what a pain but I missed at least 1 a week all semester... still got an A! A lot of h/w, he's a fair grader on exams he gives credit for what's correct even if the answer is not (show all your work). Labs are easy points so if you skip don't do it on a lab day! I absolutely would recommend this professor!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MA115
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a super smart guy,he was very soft spoken. I was absent at least 1x a week still got an A. Alot of homework but it counts as a test grade so do it! The test were semi difficult but fair grading. He gives you points for what you do correctly in the problem even if the answer is wrong, so show your work!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MA125
• 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:

Great class with Penner, printed off notes when I missed class. Sometimes not the easiest to understand but willing to help students at every turn.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MA121
• 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:

Mr. Penner is a great teacher. Homework counted as 1 test grade in our class, so do it!! He is really good at explaining the concepts and showing us where formulas come from. He definately taught me different ways to look at problems.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MA152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ehhh... Calc 2 is definitely not easy. Office hours helped a lot because he was able to explain it more in-depth. It was very hard to focus due to his lack of enthusiasm (so this is where the office hours came in).

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MA120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Mr. Penner was one of the best Math teachers I have learned under. He was more than capable of explaining most concepts in a variety of ways. I have and will continue to recommend him to any student I meet.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MA108
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class was an absolute joke. Dude looks exactly like Agent Smith from the Matrix and is very monotone, but I would skip class at least once a week (no attendance policy) and EASILY got an A

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MA122
• 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:

Great teacher he relates everything to real situations he's very smart and helped me with math even when I wasnt in his class

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MATH151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

baaaaaaaaaaaaaad teacher!!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MA151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I just didn't get it from him. He seems nice but he also seems like he has no clue about what's going on or how to teach. He stands up there and just does tough problems on the board as the rest of us watch.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MA115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Man, since when are teachers paid to entertain you! It's math..it's a boring subject what do you want him to do cartwheels or something. Yeah he's tough but take some initive and talk to him he'll go over any problem in class if you raise your hand and explain what it is thats confusing. you punks act like you never had a challenge in your lives.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MA150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Decent guy, gave good grades on tests, but final was hard, not that easy to understand in class, better one-on-one