This year, the popular review site www.RateMyProfessors.com recognized Southeastern’s faculty, ranking the campus staff as number one in the country.
Southeastern topped the list but was closely followed by John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Utah, University of North Carolina and Arizona State University.
“I’m ecstatic, but I don’t think it is very accurate,” said Dr. Amber Narro, assistant professor of communication. “Unless you love a class or hate it, you’re not going to comment. Results are skewed.”
RateMyProfessors.com enables students to anonymously post reviews and grade a professor on ease, helpfulness, clarity, textbook use and the reviewers’ interest in the class prior to taking it.
However, some students are looking to the site for course ease rather than quality.
Joseph Burns, communication professor and Faculty Senate president, saw negative remarks as evidence of a thorough course.
“I tend to prefer the students who leave negative comments,” said Burns. “I like the lower ratings because many times they seem to accurately reflect the class by saying things like, ‘You have to read the book.'”
Still, students regard RateMyProfessors.com as a source of insight on course instructors.
“I think the site is a great idea,” said Bruce Burge, a general studies major. “For far too long have professors been getting a free ride without fair student reviews.”
For RateMyProfessors.com’s survey, schools with at least 30 rated professors were considered. Schools were ranked highest to lowest depending upon average professor ranking, determined for professors with at least 30 ratings.