Renee Vanburen - Utah Valley University

Professor: Renee Vanburen

Department: Biology

College: Utah Valley University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The thing i did not like about her class was how she was very unclear about all of the homework. She gave heavy lectures and then gave out about 8 assignment/ quizzes a week. She does an outside service project that requires 10 hours and gives no study guides for tests.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1010
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Yes, this is a gen. ed class. However, it was structured in a way that is very conducive to learning. If you aren't paying for your own education and don't care about getting your money's worth, then this course probably isn't for you. All of the weekly quizzes, assignments, etc. were very helpful in actually helping me grasp the material!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

In her class, she gives out way too much homework. She assigns four quizes a week that hardly follow the online book that you are expected to read. Her classes also felt very unstructured. During the week, she will add extra assignments for you to do to do with hardly any notice on top of the quizes.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is so sweet!! She LOVES biology which makes you want to learn. She doesn't have study guides but her assignments and lectures give you all the info you need to do well on her tests. The review sessions also help a ton too. She gives a couple quizzes thru the semester but they aren't difficult. Overall, she is a really great professor!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Welcome to college. She expects you to come to class and pay attention. If you do your homework and come to her study sessions before tests you should be just fine. She has been my favorite teacher by far, she expects effort on your part dont show up thinking you can just slide by in an easy general class. Great teacher, super nice lady too.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is knowledgeable and very kind and willing to help you achieve a good grade. The problem with her is that she expects you to fall head over heels in love with biology and to walk out of her class knowing everything there is to know. Lectures had a TON of information and tests are hard. Great lady, though.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Quiz almost every week, heavy lectures, very funny, very fond of group working on quizzes, you need to study every night even though she doesn't officially have homework due that often, offers extra credit, highly respected

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Van Buren was THE WORST professor I have had in college. She was unclear about everything- from assignments to tests. She never used the information she gave on tests and tested us all the time on things we never went over in class. She also talks down to students and has no respect, yet demands respect from us. She is also VERY hard to reach.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took her class spring of 2016. We had pop quizzes, presentations, group assignments, GROUP EXAMS, an out of class service project. She will often add and subtract from the syllabus. She doesn't go straight from the book. Group exams were essay/diagram format. Seemingly subjective with her grading. Very nice person, frustrating professor.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO3800
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher, really passionate about what she teaches. As long as you aren't a mute in class and have half a brain to read the text book, you'll do good in her classes. Paying attention will get you far with her.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I'm not a fan of the group tests and the service project was a little hard to fit into a college student schedule. But other than that I really enjoyed this class and how she taught it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr Van Buren is a tough teacher. She expected a lot of us, but she really tried her hardest to make us successful. The volunteer part was a little tough to work out, but in the end, I really enjoyed it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I liked Professor Vanburen, but I felt like she expected everyone to know exactly what she was talking about even though we were in a Bio 1010 class. Her grading on tests didn't seem totally fair and many people who had studied hard were upset with the grades they received. She expects too much for a class we have to take for our generals.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is a very good teacher. You need to stay caught up in your readings otherwise you'll be behind and have a tougher time with the random quizzes she gives at the beginning of class. Tests are a little difficult, but studying the day before worked for me. The volunteer project is difficult to fit into a busy schedule, but I loved it! Study study!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO1010
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hard teacher, loves to give daily quizzes. She loves to instill fear in her students. Do NOT take this class from Renee Van Buren!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I was suprised by how she wanted you to become a passonate about the subject, but understood if you are not. She does have random quizes at the start of some classes but as long as you study and listen in class you should be fine. Sometimes her grading of tests is a little funky though.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 1010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I would not recommend this class if you are not passionate about biology. The service project hours are inconvenient for students working full time & have families especially since most of them require a long drive, steer clear of this class if you are already busy. She does not prepare you well for her tests & studying was useless.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BOT4300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was a blast! Be prepared for fun field trips all over Utah. Renee is very personable and expects a lot out of her students. Don't let the name "Native Trees and Shrubs" fool you, this class is very difficult that requires quick memorization. Not an easy A. There's also a plant collection so procrastination won't work for this class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BOT4300
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is like the college botany version of The Magic School bus. Be prepared to travel all over Utah memorizing plants as you go. You will taste the plant, feel the plant, smell the plant, sit on the cliff ledge and BE THE PLANT.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOLOGY1010
• 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:

Prof Vanburen is passionate about biology and she is a great teacher. However, her tests are really hard and you have to work for a good grade. The format of the tests change every time. Sometimes they are short answer, multiple choice, or group tests. If you study the review questions and study objectives in the book you should do fine.