He has practice problems that are similar to the tests. Not one person in our class got an A. I was the top student with an A-. No mercy or curve at the end of the class period. However, the tests are curved. HAs a good side and an evil side.

He's tough, but if you go to class, take good notes and do the assigned homework problems, the course is not too bad. I got a B, which I thought was fair. Big plus: he doesn't have an accent, so it's easy to listen to him lecture.

Decent teacher, knows his stuff. Willing to help. If you go to class, it's not too bad.

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very understandable, funny guy too

Good, interesting teacher, hard to get a good grade from him though

Dr. McKenna is a tough, but excellent professor. You'll learn a lot by taking his courses, and he's funny.

Excellent prof! His class is tough, but it is supposed to be, its chemistry. Students who dont work hard fail, students who put in the effort get the grade they want. If you want to learn, take him! Not easy, but not impossible!

Very helpful and clear in his lectures. You WILL learn a lot in this class if you're willing to put forth the effort. Tries to pick on students in funny way, but sometimes makes them feel unintelligent for asking a question. I really think, though, that he means no harm.

Chem 211 with McKenna is very, very challenging. He isn't that bad of a prof. You really have to work hard. His lecture is clear, but in lab he isn't very helpful and tells you to find out things on your own.

I enjoyed this class. It was one of the most difficult classes i have taken. The other people who say McKenna enjoys failing students doesn't know what their talking about. Students fail in his class because the class is difficult and those students look for someone to blame other than themselves

He is very helpful the tests are difficult but they make you learn the subject if you have any hope of doing well in Organic i would take mckenna he gives plenty of handouts on the web as long as you study them you can get a A

Yeah the class is difficult, but at least I have to put in some effort to learn. He comes off egotistical and he may be, but if I was that intelligent I would be too. His jokes are funny and stories are interesting. Deal with the work.

He is a good professor. He thinkings that he has to race through his information just because. I thought that you do not need to run though all of the material. But he gives you all the resources you need if you are willing to take time and learn the information.

Excellent teacher! One of the best I've ever had at SCSU! Trys to make chem as interesting and fun as it can be and is very nice. Yea it's hard, but chem's not supposed to be easy. If you study there's no reason you shouldn't do well in his class! I enjoyed it (for a chem class) I'd take him again!

Hint: He likes it when you come to class the first day and sit in the front row.

i thought he was actually one of the better chem professors and i got along well with him, but he does expect a lot...gen chem is a hard class to teach and i'd say he does a darn good job...i never got bored in his class. get on his good side by going in for extra help..it pays off. make sure you're prepared for lab too

overall nice guy. 4 exams & a final. helps students who wants and asks for help. don't slack off and expect a decent grade, it won't happen in this class. does care for students, but only students who care enough to show up to his class. if you don't show up, and did bad. don't **** about it.

brilliant professor--I hate chemistry and always will, but he is tough and really cares about the subject. his grading methods are strange, though; the labs count for about a third of the letter grade even though they take so much effort. as long as you study hard, you should be fine. B+

Good professor

Awesome professor! Very helpful, but he rushes through the material at times. Be on time; he likes that. Not a slack-off class, unless you want to do bad. I liked his study sessions; it shows that he cares how we do in his class and there is extra credit at times.

Hard, hard, hard! You learn a lot though and he cares about his students.

Very good professor. I can see how some people may be offended by his jokes or comments that are trying to make things sound easy. I often stopped by his office during non-posted office hours, he never failed to help me. He tries hard to make sure you learn the info. Big class is tough for personal attention. He sets a healthy pace and keeps it!

good teacher, however he cruizes through the lecture, so its very hard to follow along. If you go to lectures and listen, then read the chapters, you'll walk out of the class with good grade.

Jack McKenna is a very nice guy if you get to know him. He has a different way of teaching, but if you make an effort to learn he will help you. Keep a good attitude!

I honestly liked having this class with Dr. McKenna. He chose a textbook that was easy to read and comprehend. The OWL lessons were a bit challenging, but a great way to learn. He made time for me during his office hours and was more than willing to help me. Yes, he laughed at me a bit, but all out of good humor! Attend class regularly though!

I honestly think that anyone who says that he was rude to them didn't try in this class. If you show an effort, he is quite helpful. His tests are hard and he moves fast, but alot of the notes are online. As for him being arrogant, I loved his fun little extra tidbits of information, it asctually makes chem interesting.

McKenna is an amazing teacher. Always willing to help and keeps class fun. Tells funny analogies but you can still learn a lot. I would definitely reccommend him to anyone, even if you know nothing about chemistry.

take him!! he REALLY knows what hes talking about and will try to help you understand but does it in a really odd way. he kinda goes off on random topics pretty often but i strongly suggest you take him. look forward to him making chemicals and molecules appear like people or double cheeseburgers. not even kidding anyone would agree with me on that

I have him for an into to chem class and he expects students to already know the material. He is constantly saying how easy the material is, without taking into condsideration we are in an intro class for a reason. Does not answer in class questions, does not respond to emails, and go through lectures way too quickly. Too much homework.

he talks really fast, and is hard to keep up with. feels as though he talks down to you. its death by powerpoint for the whole class period and after tests he lectures more even if it is five-ten minutes. he does grade a little on a curve for his tests. but he cruzes through material the other 160 class was on 10 when we almost finished 13

He does go through content fast, and his corny jokes are funny from time to time. but all in all he is a great prof and always willing to help.

Over-all Dr. McKenna was a good teacher (will have to agree that he goes through the slides very quickly). He dislikes having students on cellphones & using laptops during lecutres. If you work hard, attend class, & go to him with questions you will do really well in the class. Would highly recommend taking him.

I took this class online. It really wasn't bad. OWL assignments are annoying, but not too hard, and everything is graded on a huge curve. I got C's on all 4 exams, and got over 100% in the class. 4 units/tests, 5th is optional (he'll drop your lowest). Easy course!

Great Professor, easy to approach. Very fast passed in his classroom, just keep up and you will do well on his tests. One of my favorite Professors and I would take him again.

Take this class online and save time. He uploads confusing lectures online that don't help you learn the material. Gives a quiz on the content of recorded lecture. Classtime is spent doing problems from content in recorded lecture. Then homework assignment based on that lecture. I see it as a 3x points based on how well one taught themself.

Very organized, and good professor. Lectures are mandatory. There are a lot of grades and homework so be prepared for that. Has a generous curve too!

I know I am the minority in this but I really enjoyed having class with mckenna. I think he is a funny guy who loves the subject. Every class is a a clicker quiz that is class interactive, lectures are online; WATCH THEM. Great for help in office hours, all tests curved, drops two worst scores on quizzes and homework, labs are tough.

I highly recommend taking general chemistry with Dr. McKenna. His lecture style is unique in the sense you watch the lecture online before class and have clicker questions during class. He is very intelligent about the subject matter and brings a sense of humor into class. Exams are curved and he offers the chance for make-up exams.

From all the chemistry professors at St Cloud State I would definitely recommend Dr. McKenna. His exams are challenging and his lecture style is "flipped", but he he is incredibly helpful if you need a difficult concept explained. Oh, and get ready for some corny jokes.

Dr. McKenna was a great teacher who loves chemistry and is actually excited to teach it. Some people may not like him because you have to go over the material before class to get ready for the quizzes however I think I learned way more this way. He is extremely fair drops homeworks, a lab and quizzes. In my opinion one of the best teachers at SCSU.

Highly recommend. McKenna has online lectures that you need to watch before class due to clicker quizzes which I found very effective. I actually retained the info instead of memorizing and forgetting. Makes this challenging course easier. Exams are curved, retest for every exam, drops hwlabs. He genuinely wants the best for his students. TAKE HIM

Great professor! Holds review sessions for EVERY chapter. Drops hw and labs. Tough exams, but are extremely curved and also has make up exams for each exam. Would take him again.

I only had him for our lab professor but I can tell he's a hard man. He's pre-lab lectures take 30 minutes to 1 hour but, it was mostly funny so... Ended up with a decent lab grade so I hold no grudge

Very good teacher, little annoying that you have to watch lectures outside of class but other than that a pretty solid prof with very funny moments in class that make you want to be there. Recommend not taking an 8 am lab though.

Great teacher if u actually go to meet him when u don't understand some topics. ... Comes across as a know it all to most students .. This course is not particularly easy but as long as u r ready to spend a lot of time on it, u all be fine.. Do not ever miss class because a lot of points are gained from the clicker quizzes.

Although the tests are hard and there's a lot of homework, by the end of the semester he curves the grade. If you want to pass the class with a C or higher, you have to do all of your homework, show up to class for quizzes, and study for the exams. But even if you failed most of your exams, you can still pass if you do your hw and quizzes.