No Comments

Communicates material in a way that people can understand. Assigns but does not collect HW which is great for me because I can work at my own pace. If you need the artificial motivation of HW points, he may not be good for you.

great teacher. explains problems in great detail. goes over everything a million times to make sure you have it down. you are graded on exams and occasional inclass quizes. class focused on: f(x), x^y and log(). :)

Mr. Updegrove is a really great math instructor. He's entertaining and he makes sense. He gives good examples on the spot. I made sure to get him next quarter.

A very cool teacher. Always willing to help his students. Wants his students to succeed. A silly sense of humor, but it makes his classes fun.

May be a little silly at times, but helps keep the class light and enjoyable. Brings a lot of outside applications & tricks that makes the math more interesting. 2nd class I've had with him, and looking forward to a 3rd. He can be stern, but very fair.

Updegrove rocks!

Mr. Updegrove is an incredible teacher, even if he does root for Ole Miss! Seriously, you will leave his class ready for higher level math classes.

He is nice but not that easy.

Nice and funny teacher, but really hard to understand. Gets off topic easily. Be active in class and he will love you. The class is was hard and lots of reading was involved.

Mr. Updegrove is one of a kind. He genuinely cares about his students in an odd way. If you want to succeed you must communicate with him. Tests are not easy, workload is intense, but he listens to you if you talk with him and will help you. Very funny sense of humor which makes the class enjoyable. Really does his best to clarify.

Very tough class but he is a great TEACHER. He can be very picky but overall he really helps you learn the information quickly. Grades a little strict but is an amazing teacher. Very helpful and has a little sense of humor.

I think he's a horrible teacher. he is crazy about knowing definitions by heart, and he only grades 4 tests and a final that goes towards your final grade, so if you don't do too well on test, you fail..he sucks

Interesting class. Though we started off with the coma that is epistemology, things are gradually getting more and more interesting. The essays are a little difficult, but just about what you'd expect from a class like this.

He teaches in a very clear fashion. I find it easy to pass his tests with a good grade, as long as you do the homework (which he does not collect). He is patient at explaining, but he does not baby anyone. I would recommend this class if you're self-motivated.

Sounded interesting, but it was a sleeper for me. Lot's of kissasses in my class too. Some days interesting, some not. Either way, a good solid teacher.

The ways that he realates math to real life situations is interesting and gets you into the class. As long as you take a many notes as possible and pay attention (gives hints on what will be on the test) the class will seem easy. He never checks homework but as long as you do it the class will be very clear.

Great teacher! I have never been good at math but the way he taught it made it clear. There was no possible way to misunderstand the concepts. Make sure you do the homework. All questions on his tests besides the definitions are from the homework.

One of the best teachers. Gives great notes which will be helpful in the future. Clear explaination. Picky about ansnwers on tests but if u study do the homework reguarly u should be fine. recommended.

The best teacher I have taken. I would highly recommend him.

I liked him. He is a goof ball, but that makes class not so boring. He grades hard, but FAIR. Just because you dont have to turn in homework, doesnt mean you dont need to do it!! He gets most test Q's from the homework. And if you dont feel like you are ready for a test, ask him to postpone it and he will! He did that twice for our class!

Content is difficult, however Updegrove's more than willing to help, & is all about answering questions. Just realize that tests account for 75 or 80% of your grade. I would have to agree that the tests are WAY too long, and [it seems] the majority of the class never finishes. I'd reccommend him...as long as you don't choke on tests.

This was my 3rd class with Updegrove. Class was engaging and informative - make sure you attend them all. Tests were HARD, but the final was fair. I just really like him. Class is only 50 mins long, but if you visit his office with a question, he is more than happy to help. He really wants us to succeed and it shows! Take him if you can.

He was so much fun! And he helped me pass! :-)

This guy is a hillarious math teacher. The examples he uses to explain concepts were rediculous, but they worked so I had to give him lots of points for clarity. His tests were pretty tough, and business calc was a hard subject for me in general, but I think I can give Updegrove credit for making it as easy and managable as possible. def. recomend

He wants his students to succeed, he explains things very well. Got off track and we didn't get everything done, but it's because he took the time to make sure everything was understood. He is funny and very into math. Tests are hard, but if you do the homework, and listen in class, they become easy. Don't be afraid to speak up, he rewards it.

He is a really good teacher, explains a subject until everyone gets it. His tests were difficult but fair. He would give hints on upcoming test material. The final was the most important, though. Get a good grade on the final, and you get a good grade in the class. I was getting a D in the class, but my final grade was a B, because of my final.

A tough class, but Mr. Updegrove is a very good and helpful teacher. It's obvious he wants his students to de well and he's more than willing to answer any question. The tests are really difficult and most of the time there are quite a few people who don't finish. He can be quite funny on occassion and keeps the class interesting. Great prof.

I hate math, but I still loved going to his class. He makes it very engaging and interesting. The tests were fairly easy if you studied and took notes. He gives hints on what will be on the test so its good to pay attention and attend class even though attendance isn't mandatory. an A on the final = A in the class.

good teacher. only assigns odds so you actually can see whether or not you understand what you are doing. also, goes over test questions. super helpful, and if you can stand hearing about a place called "math land" and "algebra land" (which i don't know why is its own seperate land...) you'll be good to go

awesome

Easygoing, nice guy... genuinely wanted us all to do well in the class (and made many adaptations to help us do so). I think he worked us pretty hard, but I feel very comfortable integrating now, so I won't complain :) And if you go to his office with questions, he's always willing to help. Take him if you can!

By far one of the funniest/weirdest professors ever. He is very helpful in class and works on problems until everyone understands them. He is also very lenient on set test/quiz days which are very easy by the way - he gives hints on what the problems will be, they are all from the book.

I am terrible at math and this was my 3rd time taking this class. He was the best teacher I had and even though I'm still terrible I did learn a lot in his class. Going to class was enjoyable and he does give hints about tests to those that go. I could not afford to miss those hints!

Great teacher!! Really wants to see his students succeed. Very easy to approach and loves to answer any questions. Tells goofy jokes to keep the class alive. Best math teacher I have ever had, all the other math teachers at BCC are TERRBIBLE! He rocks!

He's a really great teacher. i'm a running start student, and at my high school i got a "D" in precalc II. but in his class, he completely filled in all the things i missed in my horrible high school class. he keeps things interesting, explains very clearly. and is overally a great teacher. loves when his students succeed. COME TO CLASS!

Updegrove is awesome! He really loves math and he has a quirky personality which keeps class interesting! He actually cares about his students and he will help you or explain things to you if you need it! Just make sure you learn the definitions that he wants you to know. And, also, be prepared for LONG tests that some people don't finish.

The only negative comment I have about Mr. Updegrove was that we didn't cover all the material in the textbook. He was clear and quite a good instructor otherwise. He's an easy grader, so if you put in the time, you can be sure of a good grade.

Extremely clear lectures. First few tests are hard, then the last 5 or so are easy. Fair final. If you're not willing to work for your grade, then you shouldn't be taking this class. He's really funny!! Now I've realized I love math because of him. I think Mr. Updegrove should get an award.. I got so much out of his class. THANKS DANA!!

Considering this was my first summer class I feel I did well. Professor Updegrove is patient, and friendly, and VERY funny. He cares about his students grade, and is very good at explaining things if you don't understand them. I recommend him to anyone. :) He was a wonderful teacher.

His class is essentially all direct lecture with no textbook; your grade is determined completely by your performance on the final exam.

Updegrove is an awesome prof.I thought I was going to fail integral calc miserably but have had above 90 on all my tests so far! He's very good at explaining the concepts. Like some other ppl said, he can be fairly rude sometimes but if you can get past it he's a great prof, one of the best I've had.

His instruction is good, but the tests can be pretty hard. One fault I think this professor has is he does not go over missed test questions. So your left wondering what you did wrong on a question and don't have an opportunity to ask questions. Also, you're stuck with the tests as your grade so do well on them.

Updegrove rules! He breaks the math down step-by-step in Good Ol' Boy Alabama English, and is always willing to repeat or re-explain concepts until you understand them. The class may be hard, but Updegrove is honest and fair. If you do the work, you'll get an A. Anyone with half a sense of humor will really appreciate his stabs at comedy ...

Updegrove is a good instructor. His exams can be tought at times but he is extremely fair when it comes to grading. You will not pass his class if you don't put the effort into it. He does not require you to do homework, but I suggest you do it if you want to pass.

A function is a relation in which each element in a set called the domain is assigned to a unique element in a set called the range. Updegrove is definitely one of my favorite teachers of all time.. -Nick

Updegrove is ok, I've had better. He does a good job explaining the concepts...when he finally gets to them. He frequently gets off topic and I found class boring. His tests are pretty easy if you do the homework. If you can survive class, do the homework, and memorize, then it isn't too hard to get a decent grade.

Best damned math instructor on the planet.

He is the best

He is a a great teacher. He is very helpful and explains very well. His test aren't hard as long as you are doing the homework assignments that go along with it.

An energetic rogue always ready to answer questions. The class was mostly review for me, so I can't really speak to his ability to convey knowledge, but I still enjoyed his teaching style. Most of the grade is comprised of 4 or so tests, don't mess any of them up badly or it will really hurt your grade.

Too smart for his own good!

One of the worst teachers I have had. I absolutely love math, but Updegrove is bad at teaching. The material is understandable, but you just sit in class and listen, and listen, and fall asleep. Good professors keep the class occupied. The grade was mostly based on 3 tests, so if you messed up on one, you messed up in the class. DO NOT TAKE!

Mr. Updegrove is a great teacher with lots of humor to keep you awake. Calculus is not a fun topic, but he makes it fun and understandable.

one of the best math instructors i had ever seen, seriously hes willing to help u on what ever u want and even we only do 3 exams, but if u messed up on one and ur a good student hes ready to exclude it for u! math 148 is hard but he makes it easy just do the homework! and use the right notation and u'll be good

GREAT. MUST TAKE

Too smart for his own good.

I was really worried at first. He seemed to go off on unrelated tangents a lot. But he grew on me. I would definitely take another class from him.

Good instruction - uses the textbook as a resource rather than teaching from the text which provides more information.

Kind of scary because only tests and no homework.... But good overall! I took Diff Eq and survived!

Fun, nice, clear! Although the grade constitutes of 4 tests, 25% each, which seemed scary to me at first, the grading is generous (part. credit). If you do all the problems he suggests as homework and attend class where he gives useful examples and repeats the important stuff over and over again, you will probably be able to get a good grade.

extremely hard tests. It would be nice if the grade wasn't solely based off of the tests because some of us have test taking problems.

Work hard for all his classes, he might not collect homework, but it is necessary to do the homework.

if you have trouble doing complex word problems, memorizing terms and theorems, and spending money on engineer's computation paper, this instructor is not for you. i took his calculus class the summer of '10 and your grade is based solely on the highest 3 of your 4 test scores only. he takes off 10 points each for technical and physical errors too.

Great teacher. Overall very nice, he will make you memorize certain definitions, but only for your benefit of understanding. Sometimes does rant, but overall great. I would take another class from him again.

Good Class, he assigns homework but gives you credit as long as he sees effort. You need to memorize key words in definitions which is a pain but if you know your basic stuff, this class is pretty easy.

My favorite teacher of all time.

One of my favorite math instructors at BC. Easy to understand. Tests are not that hard, but he is a tough grader. Would definitely recommend to a friend! : )

Good teacher, really knows his stuff. Very good at giving clear examples. Had a tendency to make vaguely sexual comments at times though that made me reluctant to come to his office hours for help. Otherwise his years of experience teaching really show.

Great at explaining the material. Demands your full attention, and is good at keeping it. If you want to learn the material well, he's a good choice assuming you don't need a lot of help outside class. Super nice guy, if you stay clear of his boundaries, all outlined in the syllabus. If you cross his lines, there will be no mercy. Very hard grader.

Excellent professor. Unfortunately he left early due to his dad having cancer (:c), but having another professor replace him made it even more obvious why he was awesome. Whereas Updegrove actually cared about having us understand the formulas, the new professor has us memorize everything, and refused to explain it even if we asked.

If I recall, there exists no such math teacher other than Mr Updegrove. This guy has a lot of personality and was a big influence on me and my passion and later career. If you want to LEARN, take him. He's funny and quirky. Do not be afraid to speak up either. Get him to know your name. Prepares for your all the EE classes at UW. Thanks again Dana

Excellent professor, very experienced. If you really want to know math, choose him. Very hard grader, but it makes it more fun ;-)

Mr. Updegrove is a traditionalist, as he admits himself. This means HE DOES NOT CHANGE HIS MIND. He has ONE approach to teaching something, he has used it multiple times in his career and will continue to use it, whether or not it works. If you can bend to please your instructor, take him; if you want to learn Mathematics, he'd be my third choice.

I'll be fair and say that though he is not my ideal Math teacher, he IS more or less your safest bet in this college. Mr. Updegrove holds your hand through the class but hardly helps you go on with your Math career (such as developing an alternate understanding to something). He is too rigorous, but that's not a bad thing for everyone.

He is a very entertaining teacher. While he is definitely not easy and will grade you on just 4 tests that he grades harshly, he explains topics very well and includes his own life experience and struggles with math so that you don't feel quite so bad with a class average on tests around a D+/C-. This class will definitely not help your GPA out.

His tests are hard, but you will do fine if you keep practicing problems. He gets really excited when lecturing and loves saying: "now we're in Fat City, Idaho!" when teaching us how to solve problems. He is a nice guy and really wants his students to do well. Your whole grade is based on tests, but the tests include a take-home portion.

After two semesters of calculus with Kearney, Updegrove was like an oasis in the dessert. I actually WANTED to go to class and never fell asleep! Amazing. His Calc 3 class is not easy and requires you to understand the subject, but if you do all the homework and go to class, you'll do fine.

Updegrove will test you, he is NOT easy and not for those who think a C+ is an OK grade. He will annihilate you then. I received an A by showing up every day, doing all the homework, and asking questions. He will be clear as to what is on the tests, but there is always a curve ball. He is an amazing teacher if you pay attention. I loved his class.

LOVED THIS CLASS & TEACHER. Finally a math professor at Bellevue that is passionate & excited about calculus! I loved his teaching, if you go to class EVERY DAY, listen to what he says and take notes you can get away with doing a minimal amount of HW & still do well on tests. Calc is a hard subject & he made class every day soo enjoyable! take him.

One of the best math teachers I've ever had! Clear about his expectations and lectures are entertaining. Passionate about math. Years down the road I probably won't remember a thing about Taylor series, but I'll always remember his enthusiasm in explaining the "mind-blowing" Taylor series!

Updegrove focuses a lot on "the story" of calculus, so prepare yourself for lots of proofs and definitions. This did get tedious, but I did learn a lot. Your grade is only based on 4 tests, so WORK HARD on those. He has a strange sense of humor that can be irritating. Still, do feel like I learned a great deal.

Was scared by his grading policy but it turns out to be fine. He reviews before each test so you know what to study. It's important to come to class and thoroughly understand the concepts. Loved his class!

A great instructor! I definitely did not get the grade I was searching for, but Dana inspires and if you nail down the concepts and are able to apply them on the exams, you will do fine in his class. If you enjoy the story of math, this is the teacher for you!

Decent teacher, his tests aren't extremely hard and he's somewhat lenient in marking, but he takes the entire class to explain one concept and rarely does much examples. And unlike some other math teachers, you need a 96+ to get an A, so chances are you won't get a 4.0 (I had previous teachers who had 93+ for an A)

He's nice and is good at explaining if you ask questions in person. Lectures were okay. He goes off on entertaining but not math related tangents a lot. His tests are tough and it's hard to get a good grade(95%+ = A). Definitely have to study and know the material backwards and forwards. Expect to do a lot of proofs too!

Though-provoking excellent instruction. This class is not for anyone who is not serious about learning math. Dana does a good job of elaborating on any questions asked and will ensure there is an understanding. Homework is optional (except for a handful of assignments). Final was cumulative but if you do the homework, the final is no issue.

Dana is hot!!!He deserves a chilly pepper!! I am afraid of his grading policy at first. 90% of your grade is based on your exam but it turns out that he is really fair when it comes to grading. He grades very reasonable. He is a funny guy also. Overall, Dana is a really decent professor. Definitely willing to take his class again.

My class with Updegrove was the first mathematics course in which I looked forward to attending. He is a very passionate professor. Beware, this is not an easy A. He expects you to understand the definitions that you use. If you actually want to learn mathematics I recommend taking Updegrove.

very nice teacher, exam are hard, you better work your butt off to get the grade you want it. not a easy class if you dont understand ask plzz. i love the way he teach, is not only teaching you how to use a formula to solve the math is using the definition to understand the concept of what is this about.

Very challenging class. homework is not required, but you better do it because he tests very hard. Just because you can do the homework problems doesn't mean you can do the test. Show up every day and study until the book is extremely easy for you.

I highly recommend Professor Updegrove, He is very hard but if you read the book do the recommended homework and ASK QUESTIONS!!!! you will do just fine. He is one of the best math teachers I have had and math is what my BA is in so I've had a lot. you will learn more in his class than another and it is worth putting in the effort.

Mr. U is awesome! Not an easy A at all, you will have to work, but it's totally worth it. He has a passion for math that is infectious and he's just a funny dude. I am choosing to take diff eq's with him in the fall over the "easier" teacher because that's how good he is.

Most of the class time was us on the computers doing the interactive program. Lectures a little bit every day. Talks about "Math Land" which is entertaining. But for the program, I was always behind on what lesson we should be on each week. Passed with an A anyway. Final was okay, nothing too hard. I would take another math class with him again.

Good. Tests are hard. Final is easy. Must read the book and do the hw

The best Math teacher at Bellevue College. He gets it! Do yourself a favor and take his class. Homework is pencil and paper.

Your grade depends on your exams only. And exams are very very weird - not that hard if you paid attention in class. He mentions everything in class, and give hints what is on exam. Be prepared to memorize definitions and why and how things happen in math. He is the best for math majors! Overall speaking, a decent professor.

Prof Updegrove is the most inspiring math teacher I have ever had. His lectures touch on philosophy and are truly interesting. He is extremely clear on what will be asked in tests, and is the perfect mix between being hilarious and serious at the same time. He constantly cracks jokes and teaches you more than what is on the curriculum. Phenomenal.

Easily one of the best professors that I have ever heard lecture in any subject and I did not even pass the class, which was somewhat surprising so I assume tests are not very curved, if at all. Makes a 2 hour math class seem like 30 minutes, great lecturer, very smooth and easy for a descent student to follow!

Really like him as a philosophy and math double degree. He is great as a math teach, have bonus for his exam and quiz. Some times his lecture inspire me a lot. Thinking about having Math as a major.

Students respect Dana cause he wants the student to be successful in the future math classes. With that being said, if you are Math major, I strongly recommend take his class. Otherwise, his class makes you feel more challenging than other math classes (in order to get an A). He won't give you enough time to finish the test. He's hilarious!

Professor Dana Updegrove is one of the best professors that I had He always is full of positive energy His behavior reduces stress and gives you more confident and motivation to study

His class is tough, but the key to get A in this Linear Algebra class is to do your homework, you have to get your hands dirty (exercise exercise), then you will be fine. He's a really nice and funny professor, willing to help you and want you to succeeded. I will take him again.

Great professor. You will get all the concepts of the class.

Very clear teaching and allows students to work together on pop quizzes to make sure they understand.

I learned more in this math class than I have with any other teacher. Tough grader, expects a lot, but is amazing at teaching the material. Relates things to real world. If English is not your first language it may be a little confusing because he uses a lot of idioms in his lectures. My favorite math teacher so far at Bellevue College

One of the best math teachers I've ever had. Clear way of teaching and funny. Go to class everyday and do your homework.

Very good teacher. I really enjoy his class because he is really here to help you and very patient. He is always here to help you and give good advices. I recommand to people who doesn't like math.

Great teacher, funny and very passionate about math.

most of the grade is based on tests. Some will complain about his essay style questions sometimes put on tests. I liked when he would put essay questions on tests because if you pay attention to what he is lecturing about, its easy points. I wouldn't hesitate to take him again.

I really enjoyed the class with prof Updegrove. Yes Calc 2 is hard and yes you have to do a lot of homework to understand the concepts. Mr Updegrove sets your mind on understanding, not memorizing and this is very important in Math. I definitely recommend this professor as with his teaching you will definitely know what is what in Math.

Jolly guy. Tests are long as balls, make sure you write fast. Great Lecturer, teaches what you should actually know. Hard class though, don't take if you absolutely need an A. Also, he is hot like bacon fat on medium high heat.

I had Mr. Updegrove for Calc III and IV. I thought he was funny and a really good teacher, and merciful.... most of the time. His lectures are interesting and I never opened the textbook. Definitely would take again.

The exams are long, but the problems on them are generally straight forward, and often lifted straight from the homework. If you do ALL the assigned homework you're basically guaranteed a B+ or better, and an A should be reasonably within grasp. Most importantly though, you're going to LEARN A LOT in his classes, which is why they'r worth taking.

lectures are amazing, but tests are too long. you need to write fast plus he grades very restrictively. most of questions are similar to homework questions but you will face one or two that you never seen before. some essay questions are there too which is rare in math class. B range is not difficult but getting an A definitely is!

Make sure to utilize office hours. He comes across as intimidating, but just ask him your questions. Do the homework even though he doesn't collect it. It's unbelievably fundamental in your learning. You will learn in this class if so. You don't just learn calculus for a quarter and never use it again. I've applied my learning to other classes.

You must study at least an hour every day. You'd better finish all homework even though it is not mandatory because all of problems in exams and final come from it. If and only if you've done homework, you got easy A. His lectures make all of problems so easy and simple. It makes you feel this class is very easy and then not study enough. got fail

I liked the class. He really made you think about what you were doing conceptually. I wish I could take more classes from him, but he's retiring soon. If you put in the work, you will learn a lot from him; he radically changed my perspective on math as a whole, for the better. If you're serious about learning, I'd highly recommend him.