2.5
Quality3.7
Difficulty28%
Would Retake84
Reviews28%
Would Retake
84
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
16
4
12
3
10
2
11
1
35
What Students Say
“She is the antithesis of higher education”
HON100 - 1.0 rating“Horrible teacher and pretty much the whole class had a 70% or lower”
214 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
91%
Textbook Required
64%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.83 avg changeRatings by Course
INTERCOM
5.0
(1)COM450
5.0
(2)HEA310
3.8
(4)COM410
3.7
(9)COM204
3.1
(23)Difficulty by Course
COM444
5.0
COM224
4.7
COM508
4.5
214
4.1
410
4.0
Reviews (84)
She tries to be your friend, then demands respect she hasn't earned. She relies on personal stories from students to keep her teaching going, which more often than not leads the class in a totally different direction as you sit wondering why you're still there. Easy but aggrivating to sit through. Unless you're a girl.
ri****ingdiculous.... she expects u to already be a damn expert in the field. Her tests are vague and unclear, and def NOT what had gone over in class. She says to read the book for the definitons then gives different ones on the test. IMPOSSSIBLEEEEEEEEEEE
she is the worst teacher ever. do not take her! she does not want to help you and she expects you to know everything. Her tests are insane and she has no sympathy for anybody. dont take her!
She makes the research paper 10 x harder then it has to be. She deff. expects you to be an expert in the field. If you are an over acheiver and have the time to demand to practically proffessional studies of research then take her....if you're like the rest of us and just need the class to be a COM major then do yourself a favor & take som1 else!
I enjoy our class because we don't do anything, but she grades WAY to hard for papers and relies on personal stories from the class to teach. VERY UNCLEAR and is leaving three papers a final project and a test for the last 3 weeks of the semester. Is hard on attendance and is a tough professor. Avoid if at all possible.
the class is not difficult, however there have only been two graded assignments and there are four more in the final 3 weeks of class. this sucks, of course, but it is buffered by the fact that she is sexy, and wears sexy outfits to class with knee-high boots that make you think all sorts of things (and they are not related to conflict management)
i think the only way you could handle a class like this is if it were your ONLY class.. she expects you to be an expert and know everything, and grades harder than anybody i've ever known. has no sympthay!! she really made me want to switch majors or just drop out.. UGH
DO NOT TAKE HER... THIS CLASS WILL HAVE YOU CONFUSED WALKING IN AND EVEN MORE CONFUSED WHEN YOU LEAVE EVERY WEEK... NOT AN AWFUL PERSON< BUT SHE HAS NO SYMPATHY TOWARDS GRADES AND EXPECTS EVERYONE TO BE AN EXPERT... SHE CAN NOT TEACH> SHE JUST TALKS IN TEXT TERMS. IF YOU MUST ABSOLUTELY TAKE HER-- MAKE SURE IT ISN"T A 3 HOUR COURSE!!!
She is very condescending to her students. The workload is not fit for college sutdents. Paper grading is harsh. Be a little easier on grading, you don't explain how to do the papers in class anyway. If you can't use blackboard, don't bother with this class, because she expects blackboard to teach you, since she doesn't do it. Avoid her if you can!
Very hard class and very hard professor!I think she is a REALLY nice person but she does not teach well.We are not grad students and i believe she feels we are...DO NOT TAKE HER So far i have a B in the class but i had to basically forget about my other com classes for that B and after the final i think i might have a D!good luck if u end up w/ her
worst comm teacher i've ever had. acts as if though shes teaching a graduate level class when really most of the students in her class are still trying to get into the major. DO NOT take her if at all possible. she sucks. i worked my ass off and barley got a C
HORRIBLE. worst teacher I've ever had. At the midterm I still hadn't had a grade for her class. Saved 4 MAJOR assignments for the last week of class and is such a hard grader. Resist this woman!!!
She makes the class very easy to participate in and you feel comfortable in. Not hard to get good grades if you READ and study. She's kinda moody and definately condescending at times though.
To summarize her teaching style, she expects you to perform like a grad student, but treats you like an elementary school student. She speaks in this over-simplified language that just screams "I have to dumb myself down because you won't understand it otherwise." Oh yeah, her grading style is absolutely unreasonable. Don't take classes with her.
***IF YOU TOOK HER...DROP THE CLASS FIND A DIFFERENT TEACHER!!!*** she is a horrible human being..our class average right now is a 42%.. and thats with her giving us all 10 bonus points for nothing. ***DONT TAKE DR.DENISE POLK, YOU WILL FAIL WILL HATE EVERY SECOND OF IT.. SHE IS THE WORST TEACHER IN PENNSYLVANIA, MAYBE EVEN THE WORLD!!****
she wasnt an awesome teacher...hard to know what she expects on her test, but honestly if you go to her office hours and talk to her she can be really reasonable helped me get a b for the semester when i got a 19/76 on her midterm just do the work and read and youll bne ok
WORST TEACHER AND HUMAN BEING EVER BORN. she is a horrible teacher. she expects to much. dont waste your time by going to her, she will just speak down to you and try to prove she's right.
i think that every student that is a communication studies major should take this course! she is very helpful, and wants the students to do well. the course material is very interesting, and she is a very fair grader!
dr.polk is deff a little bit of a challenging teacher but she gives you info and great topics...the classes are small and we have great disscusion...i have used alot of stuff we have learned....only 2 papers and a few "pop" quizes in this class.....going to class is key but still she is great...very supportive and really caring about her students..
She's hard but she's fair and she really wants everyone to do well. Tests are tough but if you listen in class and read the book it's not bad. Don't be afraid of what other people wrote. If you go in with the right attitude, she's just fine.
She definitely has changed over the past two years. Believe me, she had a rough time starting at this university and I hated her class. But I can say that she has changed alot, and is striving to become a better professor. She listens more now to her students and tries to help them out as much as she can.
Dr. Polk is a great teacher. Her class is really interesting and laid back. Assignments aren't too bad and she grades really fair. I dunno if people didn't like her because she is blunt about things, but she is a great professor and a really nice person as well.
I cant believe I am reading this.. She was the worst ever!! I had alot of teachers at WC, and she was by far the worst.. Class average on the first test was less than a 50%, and she got mad at us!! Mean, cold, and ****y.. only good thing she had was the "F" me boots she wore like twice a week..
Dr. Polk is somewhat challenging, but is very accommodating to her students. In past classes I've had her for, she has asked for feedback and then she actually applied it to the next semester. She is very approachable. For the students that diss her I say this: Just because the class is challenging, doesn't mean Dr. Polk is a bad prof.
I worked really hard in this class and got a B. That doesn't sound that great, but she is very challenging. If you are looking for an easy A this is not the professor for you, but if you are looking to learn as much as possible about the subject of interpersonal communication I highly recommend Denise Polk. Shes organized, precise, and helpful.
ONE of the worst professors i have had. She thought that she was the best person ever, and if you tried to say she wasnt, she was mad. She thought that her opionion was the only one that mattered, and was not clear with her assignments. DONT TAKE HER!!!
Dr. Polk was probably one of the best teachers I've had in awhile. She really relates to her students and wants them to do well. The class is challenging, but come on, its college. I learned a lot and really enjoyed her as a teacher. Shes very approachable. The fact that she was such a good prof. was probably the reason i recieved an A in the class
If you're looking for a professor who can't teach, hates other people's opinions, and makes you question humanity....then look no further.
Dr. Polk is one of the nicest professors I have encountered her workload is a little overbearing at times but its nothing to bad. She really works hard to make sure you are understanding the material. Speeches in her class are graded very hard but when you get an A in one you know you really deserved it. 4 speeches and 5 weekly quizzes and a final.
I guess she thinks this is a seminar class and that her class is the only one you have. She tends to talk down to you im not sure if it's b/c she is a comm. prof., she's not help, not understanding at all. Im the 3rd person this semester to say AVOID HER at all costs!
I heard horrible things about this teacher before I took this class. I tried to figure out why I didn't hate her and I realized it is because she is a great teacher. If you don't do the work, you're obviously not going to like her. I can't sit through a lot of the hour and a half classes but I enjoyed every minute of this class and got a 97%
unattainable expectations, mean, rude and thinks everything revolves around her classes..............
Sometimes had this annoyed, impatient tone to her voice, but as time went on seemed nicer- like she was 2 diff people. Tried her best to help us learn the material with email suggestions, feedback, etc. Class itself was boring, but not her fault. Made mistakes, but who doesnt. Will help if asked. I do respect & like her as a person & as a prof.
Nice to some students, rude to others. talks down to people, yelled at us for not participating Rude to Boyle- made him wait outside 4 a while when he came 2 guest lecture. Syllabus said midterm was openbook, then she changed it. Disorganized, sometimes unprepared awkward lecturer. But she does try, just has poor communication skills sometimes
I found her class to be interesting and fairly graded. She is a really nice professor and is always willing to help. If you prepare for tests with the study guides you will do just fine. She also offers a lot of extra credit. People just dont like her if they are looking for a super easy class, it is a lot of work but not too hard.
very nice sweet teacher. gives out a lot of work, her classes are very interesting and she makes them fun. not an easy a though!
Dr. Polk is very well meaning, and really makes an effort. However, she has a tendency to put words into her students' mouth, and turn her nose up at opinions that differ from her own. I don't think she does this intentionally, but she certainly does it frequently and extremely.
She was a great teacher. 8 hours of class flew by - interesting class discussions and theories discussed. Definitely learned a lot about the subject and writing. Class material was interesting and not what I was expecting (which was a good thing!) I'd definitely take her again! She's very nice and good at explaining things well! Def recommend!
Do not take this week long summer class! The worst summer week long class I've ever taken. Unrealistic expectations of a student in a short time period. VERY rude to students.
I learned absolutely nothing in this class. I was honestly excited about it because I'm interested in the topic and it was a total waste of time. There's no textbook but yet you have to write a paper and presentation and cite theories. She expects too much from the class and doesn't provide enough information.
Love & Marriage- summer I (5 days, 8 hrs/day)- writing emphasis shouldn't be a week-long class (hand cramps). Denise: strict; concise with expectations; class was more scientific than fluffy; she's not the devil, but doesn't spoon feed or give out A's- you earn it; a strong female role model; reminds me of Kristen Bell with red hair.
there are SOOO many things to explain about polk as a person and as a teacher. all i can say is that i would highly highly suggest avoiding her classes. the comm department has a few amazing professors, check them out first. and even if you feel you have to take class with her, keep looking for something else.
loved this class! polk is a great professor and definitely taught me a lot of interesting things. you'll do fine on the tests as long as you do the study guide. highly recommend her but you have to work for an A
The reason there is no "professor feedback" on this page, is because she will do it in class... She is a typical intellectual who believes she is outside the realm of those that she studies. She looks like she listens to NPR and shops at Whole Foods, but don't let it fool you - she has trouble being open to new ideas and appreciating diversity.
She is a little rough around the edges but is knowledgeable about interpersonal communications. She used a lot of video clips in her lectures, she also give lots of examples. she teaches off a power point but its not bad. READ THE CHAPTERS! there are 6 pop-quizzes. The tests are hard but she gives you a very good study guide, so fill it out!
She kept my attention for the entire hour and forty-five minutes. She uses a lot of film clips that should be updated. My class was enjoyable because everyone participated. The tests aren't bad if you complete the study guides. I think she is an interesting person and i'd like to take her for a higher level course
NIGHTMARE. Worst com professor I've had. Quizzes you on reading every single time. Majority of class is her talking about her bee keeping and recycling and personal stories. Minority of the class is real material. Entire class material needs to be organized to actually teach. cliche of a college professor gone wrong.
She is mean. Doesn't let anything slide. Acts like she cares but doesn't. if you miss too many classes you will fail. Avoid her if you can. The assignments are unclear and she grades hard. She says you can make up class but she wont let you. pop quiz on every reading even the first. gives you like 2 minutes to answer long questions. RUN RUN RUN!!!
Tough Grader. Talks too fast so its hard to grasp information. Gives pop up quizzes
No, just no.
This class was not easy. The material wasn't complicated, but it was redundant and boring, and there was TONS of information to learn. Very difficult to study for, a lot of memorization. Polk marked me absent for 7 days, three of which I was in class, and did not offer to change the mistake or let me make it up. Took 9 points off my final grade.
She is a great professor. Her guidelines are very clear and if you follow the assignment details in the syllabus you will get a great grade. If you have any Q's she is very understanding and will take the time to explain anything you need. I took her for COM 450 as well and it was just as great of an experience. If you dont try you wont do well.
Dr. Polk uses her teaching position as a platform to spew anti-vaxxer, soccer mom bs as she pleases. Her course was a single stream of consciousness sjw rant coming directly from her behind. She is the antithesis of higher education. She's also quite dumb. Gives off a "took too much LSD in her early 20's" vibe. However she was hired is beyond me.
Polk is such a nice woman and really cares about her students. She is not too hard and grades fairly. Take her!
Dr. Polk is an awesome person. She is enthusiastic about teaching & made going to an 8 a.m. worth it. She kept my attention the whole time with activities, discussions, slides, & videos. The only reason I would be hesitant to take her would be that her tests are difficult. However, she offers study guides & if you study that you should be all good.
Dr. Polk is by no means an easy grader. Her tests are very difficult but if you study you will do well. If you want to learn, especially if you're a COM major, you should definitely take her class. She is one of those professors that sees how hard you work even if you're not getting perfect grades and will notice.
Dr. Polk is an amazing professor if you actually put the effort in. She is a great COM professor and you'll learn a lot but must put the work in and you'll be rewarded. Very knowledgable and the class was super challenging but interesting
I really liked Professor Polk! She was really nice and made class interesting. The tests were kinda hard but if you study, take good notes and do study guide you can easily get an A. She gives a study guide before every test with everything you need to know which is super helpful. Must go to class! Participation is a huge part of grade
I had Dr. Polk for a few classes. She really knows her material, but she is pretty harsh. She wants the floor to be an open discussion, but she cuts people off. She is a very well rounded woman, but she walks with her nose up. She could say many things in nicer ways.
Polk would go from one extreme to the other: sometimes her voice would be gentle, and other times it would have this sharp, angry, shrill tone to it. She actually yelled at us once for not speaking up in class (we were all COM majors and talked in our other classes) She could be nice, but also very condescending. There r MUCH better profs at WCU
The Socratic seminars are horrible and she is sometimes nice but also strict. Participation is huge and there are only a few things that will make up your grade.
I was really excited for this course and it turned out to be a complete waste of time. Professor polk gave the class 5 grades total for the entire semester. I don't understand what students learn from the socratic seminars, competitively butting yourself into a conversation solely to get your two answers in. Avoid if you can
Dr. Polk shared experiences in class that were helpful to connect, but we had many online classes that were videos/documentaries. Each had a paper afterwards. The readings were long - but were taken from a text book. The midterm and communication was not great. But, I learned a lot. (Com-380)
I took 214 with Polk and the material would have actually been interesting to learn if it were with any other human being. She teaches in a condescending manner and does not seem to want her students to succeed. She cancels class frequently due to personal matters but does not care about students in the slightest if they have similar issues. v rude
Dr. Polk is one of the worst professors I ever had. DO NOT TAKE HER. I know people see bad reviews on professors and think "can't be that bad" but she is terrible.
Professor Polk sucks so bad. Do not take her
Dr. Polk is an great person I can tell that she does want her students to learn the material and tries to make the content interesting to learn. Yet, she does not communicate well. We had an exam, she did not show up - no email. This has happened two/three other times and she seems passive aggressive in her emails. Wish the communication was better
I gave Prof. Polk the benefit of the doubt in the beginning of the semester, but as we've continued through the course its become pretty unbearable. Never have I experienced such unprofessionalism from a professor when addressing her students, especially through email. She has missed class without notice, getting angry when students are confused.
Never have I felt such a lack of respect from a professor. Her emails are lacking vital information and her classroom feels like a prison ripping its students of any creativity and dignity. Her attitude makes anyone who sits in her class feel targeted just for speaking up. If you have the option to take this class with another professor take it!
She is the absolute worst. She cares more about her appearance than her actual teaching. Her lectures are pointless, the textbook she uses is BARELY helpful. Your GPA will drop because of her lack of proper teaching and respect in the classroom. For your sanity and your GPA don't take her and find a better professor for a communications class.
Dr. Polk sent a handful of rude and bizarre emails to the class a week she moved our midterm twice last minute. In the following week she was in and out, dozing off during an important assignment where on our feedback she implied we were the one's lacking energy.
Very rude professor, sent the whole class a nasty email that we weren't leaving her alone and that we were rude. Horrible teacher and pretty much the whole class had a 70% or lower. She ended up leaving our class with a month to go in the semester. We were more then 3 weeks behind on exams and us students had no idea what was going on in the class.
Don't take her! We learned nothing all semester and after she skipped a few classes, verbally harassed a student and and went off on long tangents about suicide she was removed from our class one month before the end of our semester. all the work we did for her ended up being for nothing and our new teacher had to teach us the class in 1 month.
Everyone's reviews are accurate. I had her for com214 two years ago and I was worried about taking her class again. But, this class has been alright; 2 socratic seminars, 1 timed paper at home, and a final project. No exams in class and participation is huge part of your grade. But, she talks nonsense in class and its a waste of time. She's weird.
She needs serious help, myself and others are very concerned for her well being. Multiple students have reported her to public safety.
She came into class covered in blood... No I'm not kidding and yes it was traumatizing. Also halfway through the semester she got replaced and we never saw/heard from her again.
This was my first and only C in a major class throughout all my semesters at West Chester. I genuinely do not know how Denise Polk still has her job. Any questions you try to ask her she immediately tells you to check the syllabus or D2L. Continuously came to class late, mixed up her instructions all the time and th students paid for it.
She is strict about due dates, but the class is set up in an organized fashion - easy to navigate. Balance of speeches and quizzes/final.
DO NOT take this professor. This woman approached me and another student and slammed close both of our MacBooks less than 15 minutes into the first class I've had with her. She was lecturing and the way I retain information is by typing my notes. I have never felt more uncomfortable and unsafe in a classroom from the educator. Unacceptable.
Dr. Polk has a lot of issues. She would come to class with not clear intentions on what we were doing that day. Her lectures were boring, and grading was very harsh. She left halfway through our semester and thank God for that. I don't think she is a bad person, just not a good professor.
mix of lecture with power point and graded assignments. due dates are firm
All power points are posted online as well as rubrics and instructions for each assignment. It's public speaking so not everybody's favorite, but it fulfills one of the speaking requirements. Turn in assignments on time and be there on your speech days. If you're sick, you will need proper documentation if you miss a speech.
Dr. Polk is disorganized. She's all over the place and it makes taking her class difficult. The start of the semester her dates were wrong in D2L. They were for the prior semester. She removed them and never added new dates. She sent sarcastic messages to the class when many complained about the due dates and lack of clarity. Avoid her at all costs
Arbitrary grader, extremely anti-DEI and treats certain students differently than other students.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
91%
Textbook Required
64%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.83 avg changeRatings by Course
INTERCOM
5.0
(1)COM450
5.0
(2)HEA310
3.8
(4)COM410
3.7
(9)COM204
3.1
(23)Difficulty by Course
COM444
5.0
COM224
4.7
COM508
4.5
214
4.1
410
4.0