Paul is an awesome guy, very clear. He knows what he's talking about. I would recommend him to anyone who wants a fun GUR and would like to learn something about Earth, too!

I enjoyed coming to class everyday. His lectures were interesting and he used pictures with examples which was really helpful. He wants you to do well, if you study you will be fine. I love Paul!

Paul is very approachable and nice. He's very clear with his lectures and doesn't waste anyone's time. And if you ask him questions during the tests he will help you, unlike other teachers.

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Paul is great! If you learn well by professors who are enthusiastic about their jobs, then he's the one you want for geology. He's approachable, he makes funny jokes, he gives study guides AND he shows a video now and then. As long as you go to class, you'll learn a lot.

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Thomas made the class very interesting, and fairly easy. Probably the easiest 101 class in Geology, got an A.

He actually cares about his students! Good Guy.

Take geology with this guy the class is pretty straight forward just read the book and you will be fine. He's a nice guy

Paul is awesome!!! He is straightforward, no BS at all, and totally chill. He tells you everything you need to know for the exams, and he focuses on things he is passionate about. I had so much fun in his class.

this guy is the best! If you need help he is your man. Just talk to him. I liked him and so i am taking his class next quarter.

Funny, fair and enthusiatic!

He's a really cool guy, I would reccomend taking a class from him. The tests are pretty easy and you don't really have to read the book if you pay attention in class.

For an enormous GUR class, the lectures were pretty interesting! However, I was frustrated with the lack of organization between the lab and lecture - we often had to do labs on subjects that hadn't come up in our assigned readings or in lectures.

Fun lectures, though they never really were on the same timeline or subject as labs which was frustrating.

Great teacher! Fun, keeps it interesting, fairly easy.

Great guy

this class was great! Unfortunately i didn't put as much effort into the final as i should have, so it kinda killed my grade, so study for the final and you'll do fine!

I really enjoyed this class. Paul has a very laid back feel to his class and i liked that. Plus during final projects he brought in cookies and juice... what a plus. Only bad thing was his tests... they killed my grade. Definately study, study, study for t

He definitely loves geology and he wants his students to love it too. A pretty easy class overall... no need to read the book if you take notes in class. No suprises on the tests and the study guide is VERY helpful. The lectures don't correspond to the labs very well but it's not a big deal.

Paul is amazing. I am not a science person, but his enthusiasm made the class very enjoyable. I met with him several times throughout the year, and he is very helpful and concerned with how his students feel regarding the class. He will go the extra mile and then some to help you succeed.

simple. this is the easiest class i've ever taken! listen to the lectures and the rest is stuff you already know. some people had trouble in the class, but really, it's not that hard. just take notes.

nice guy, loves teaching. Makes lectures interesting. Study for the tests and you will do fine. Gives easy extra credit activities. Laid back approach, easy to like.

Paul has the most effective teaching style I've seen. He summarizes a topic, then expands into a organized, full explanation, and then re-cap the basics - ingraining it into your memory. Going into the cumulative final, I remembered practically all of the material before I pick up the book to study. Minerals, however, are no picnic to learn.

Makes geology fun to learn. Straight forward exams and explains everything good.

Paul Thomas is a very nice guy and his lectures are straight to the point. the tests are based off all the notes, so its not hard to get a good grade. he even offered an extra credit poster assignment at the end of the quarter. sweet.

Best teacher I have ever had at Western! His tests are exactally easy but they aren't hard either. Go to class and take notes and you will do fine. He explains everything and is willing to help you if you don't get it. He will take time to explain anything. He rocks - ;)

Paul was the best professor I have ever had at Western. I learned so much from him, and if he taught every geology class I would make it my major. He is very kind and understanding. Tests are straight from lecture, so go to class. I didnt open up the book at all, so dont buy it. Sit in the first three rows, he loves to get to know his students.

Exellent teacher! Loved going to class eventhough it was early. Tests are 90% based on class lecture. Let's just get to the chase, the guy is tight. My favorite quote by him (right after the first test), "We will curve the crap out of it if we have to." I hate science and this guys class was very interesting.

Really nice guy who makes cheesy, but funny joke. Class was kinda boring but could have been much worse. Really do the reading and study the notes and you should be fine. I got a B but I wasn't really trying as hard as I should have.

If Thore Hanson isn't available you should definitely take geology from Paul, he is a pretty cheesy guy but can make the boring topic fun. And the tests aren't hard they are based off the lecture, don't buy the book you won't even need it if you go to class.

awesome class! i took this class just to satisfy a GUR, but ended up loving it! paul makes fairly boring material very interesting. he doesn't post slides online, so going to class is a must, but class is interesting enough to want to go. tests were fair and expectations were straightforward. i'd recommend him to anyone!

best professor! explains things thoroughly, makes class interesting. Adapts to students needs, quite the character! Great sense of humor! I wish he taught all of the Geology classes!!!

If you have never done anything with Geology in highschool, I definetly recommend this 101 class! Thomas ia a little silly, but very clear and straight forward. DO THE EXTRA CREDIT OPTION at the end of the year,it is not as hard as it seems!!

TAKE THIS CLASS. TAKE IT WITH PAUL. He is 100% fair and friendly and a real pro.

Geology & Society focused on Climate Change. It was overall, a very good class. His lectures are crystal clear and he posts them online. His tests are not bad at all. He even allowed us to re-take the tests at home for a better grade. If you're thinking of taking a Geology class, get one with Paul Thomas. Great professor and a great guy.

Paul is great! he is completely fair, he gives his students every chance to do good. GO TO THE REVIEW SESSIONS! Makes class easy to go to and take notes in.

Great professor. Made a sometimes difficult class easy and interesting. I recommend him 100%

Paul is a really fun, inclusive teacher, making jokes but not too off topic, i enjoyed going to his classes because he would tell you exactly what what important to know. The textbook we used was awesome too, its a summarized version of what a normal sized textbook would be, so your not spending a lot of time reading. great teacher!

Paul is the best. Geo101 is super easy, he is always helpful. Lectures aren't dry at all. Labs are pretty easy, and excellent choice for LSCI GUR and I hate science. Take Paul for 101. He's a must.

Awesome class. super easy just go to class and the review session. tests are straight from notes and class

Paul is one of my favorite profs Ive had @ WWU by far. I hated geology before I took this class but he made it interesting and is really funny. Do the extra credit poster and go to review sessions for the exams the night before and the morning of the test. He's very fair and helpful during office hours!! Tests are straight forward, lab isn't bad.

Paul is a great teacher, and I would highly recommend him to anyone wanting to take a geology class. He's funny and tries to make things as interesting as possible. Also, he's very available for help. He's a very nice, approachable guy, and he wants to know his students a individuals. As long as you're in class, you'll pass.

very enthusiastic about what he teaches, easy to listen to, hard tests.

As long as you go to class and take notes you will do very well. Besides you won't want to miss class because Paul is very clear, funny, and talks about interesting topics. You'll discover the worst part of this class is the lab, but that's beyond Paul's control. This is one of the easiest, yet very useful Lab SCI GURs you could take. DO IT!!!

Paul Thomas is awesome! He'll go out of his way to help you out. He clearly defines what you need to get done to ace the exams. I would suggest taking Geology 101 with him!

I LOVE PAUL!!!He is very helpful, always a nice guy, and keeps things interesting! Definitely take him! Why else would his classes be the first to fill up if he wasn't a good teacher?!

One of the most personable professors out there. Very helpful teacher. Going to his office hours before exams helps out a ton. Lab section of class is terrible, but Paul is great.

This man is awesome. Before the class, i wasn't that interested in the class, but after taking the class with him, I found it my favorite class of the quarter. He's super chill and funny, which helps during his lectures. Its not a very difficult class if you do some studying

Paul is probably my favorite prof at wwu. He's hilarious and so helpful- love him.

Paul Thomas is the BEST!!! He is very approachable and overall AWESOME!! I'm usually too scared to talk to professors, but he is very friendly and I'm not intimidated to ask him questions! He really cares about his students and wants to see them do well! He makes his lectures interesting and I would definitely take more classes from him!!

He is the best Geology teacher you could have. He is very nice and very funny. He is more than helpful and is very good about his office hours. He's laid back and awesome!

Best Prof at Western I've had to date. I absolutely love how crystal clear his lectures are and how he shows a true passion for Geology. I'm kind of shy, and Paul was the only prof. I ended up chatting with this quarter. Thanks to all his understandable, I ended up getting a B+ in his class, and I am Horrible at science. TAKE HIM!!!

Paul is the man. If you need a lab science GUR take this class. Lectures are clear, tests are clear, grading is clear. He holds a review before each test which is very helpful as he covers pretty much everything for the test. Great prof

Taking Geology 101 with Paul could not have been a better experience. This course is fun and informative. Go to class and take effective notes on the points he emphasizes and you will succeed. Tests are not challenging, they are merely checking if you were attentive in class and if you put effort in when studying. Paul is great! Take him for Geol.

Paul was an awesome teacher! I took him for Environmental Geology, a subject which I am interested in, and he explained the subject thoroughly and with zeal. Best Geology Teacher At Western! It's INSANE he hasn't gotten tenure yet. I will take Paul for as many classes as I can in the future!

Easygoing, passionate for geology - cool guy. Lectures were clear. Lab is toughest part of class. Lots of material to cover for this class - 4 billion years is a lot of stuff to remember! Let us get makeup points on 1 test & gave extra credit opportunity. Tests were tough - 2/3 mult choice 1/3 short answer. Seems easy at start, gets more difficult.

there ain't nothing wrong with Paul Thomas. He's the dude you want to learn from. he is SO nice, and even though I've only taken one of his classes, he still remembers my name when he sees me around campus and says hello, asks me how my roommates are (by name) and asks about classes and stuff. he's really cool, and I heard he likes to party

Paul is the best. Don't take geology from any other teacher if you want to at least semi enjoy yourself. He's so personable and clear in his lectures and tests. I had no interest in geology before but he taught it so well, I wanted to come to class. LOVE HIM, TAKE HIM.

Paul is the most personable professor on campus. He is extremely approachable and gets to know a lot of his students by name even in the short time that he has you. I had a very low interest in geology going in and was just fulfilling a lab science GUR, but came out with an A-. Don't take GEO101 with any other professor. He's the absolute best.

He is an awesome professor. Really seeks student approval it seems. Had an 80 minute class, and he would let our class go outside on sunny days midway through if he could see us falling asleep. Tests aren't bad, and are fair. Super easy to talk to, and great guy. Found myself interested in subject.

Definitely take geology with Paul! He's so nice, and took the time to learn my name. I was slightly interested in geology before, but it was my absolute favorite class of the quarter, and even made me consider changing my major to geology.

Paul's the man! He's funny, really chill, willing to help, & holds study sessions the day before tests over all the material/answers. Attend class or get the notes from someone, & go over them once or twice before the tests, & you'll definitely ace the class. I highly recommend this teacher. He's very clear & great at answering questions also.

Paul is one of my favorite professors I have ever had. He cares more about students than anything else. Not only that, he is easy to talk to and ask questions, and he completely understands student comprehension. If you have the privilege of taking a class with him, I would do it.

Paul is the absolute best. Geology isn't my thing but he made it interesting and easy to learn. I couldn't recommend him highly enough.

Before I took this class I had no interest in Geology but after finishing I found that I wanted to major or minor because class was interesting even if it was a little bit longer. Not difficult if you show up or put in effort and class is interesting.

I had no interest in this prior to taking it & now I am majoring in it! Paul Thomas is so helpful to his students & offers extra credit. He makes info interesting & easy to learn. Go to class, read textbook as needed & GO TO STUDY SESSIONS BEFORE TESTS! He will tell you what you need to know & DON'T need to know for them exam! Highly recommended!

Paul was one of the best profs I have had since I have been here at WWU. He makes the course as easy and accessible as he can. Exams were online, and so was the final. He really enjoys geology and is so enthusiastic about it as well as teaching it. He doesn't try to make the class difficult. Although I did NOT like my Lab TA she graded harsh.

Paul is super rad and laid back. His lectures are fun and informational. I feel like I really learned a lot! His tests were online, which meant they were susceptible to glitching, but he's very receptive to complaints. He wants to see you succeed. His tests might trip you up on the wording though I still got out with an A! Pleasure. Would recommend

Paul is super helpful and listened to the class. He was there to help you learn and succeed, not see who he can push the farthest. He is always willing to help and I learned really well from him. His classes are engaging and the tests are online which lets you use your notes, so take good notes! Thank You Paul!

Paul is my favorite professor at Western. I also had him for Geo 101 and I loved him so much I took 252 as my lab GUR. His tests are hard, but if you study and ask him for help as well as study your labs, you'll be ok. The labs help cushion your grade if you don't do too well on the tests. Paul is personable, laid back, funny, and incredibly nice.

Really nice guy and pretty funny. The only professor I know who teaches geology 212. His exams are really hard and he puts questions down just to trick you. Basically told us he wants the class average to be B's and mostly C's. He provides extra credit though and if you talk to him he can be really helpfu.

Overall the class was very easy and straight forward. Paul is a great professor, and extremely personable. The learn smarts were annoying, but an easy grade booster. His tests and group projects are graded kind of harshly, but as long as you go to all the lectures you should get a good grade in the class.

Paul is awesome!!! He loves the subject and he's unbelievably helpful and personable. If you just do all the homework and lab information then you'll get an A. The content is easy to understand and there are lots of people who are willing to help.

Paul is hands down the best professor I've ever had. He does his best to make lectures interesting, and makes an effort to get to know his students and always remembers your name. He is super helpful and totally willing to help you out, not to mention hilarious. Super highly recommended.

He's a really good professor, but the textbook and online software were seriously awful and entirely unhelpful. He posts his powerpoints online and the exams are open book. You do have to study for the exams, though.

I've had Paul for two quarters. He's a great prof! I enjoy going to class, he makes it fun and he really likes what he teaches, which keeps you engaged. The classwork is pretty easy (although tedious in GEO 101), but exams are hard. Not because you don't understand the material, but because he wants to challenge you to make sure you really know it

Paul is a magnificent professor, he is very clear during lectures and encourages students to introduce themselves after class or to visit office hours. Everything he says is worth writing down, I highly recommend attending every single class. Exams are on Canvas and are easy if you attended lecture and have the book & notes ready.

Paul is my favorite professor at WWU thus far. Very approachable and clear in his lectures. Online assignments are tedious but helpful if you do them correctly. Three exams plus a final, all online. Only critique is his exam questions are almost always either too specific, or too vague... in other words, ask for extra help and study, study, study!

Paul is very laid back in manner but psyched to teach you introductory knowledge of geology. Goes through his lectures with details, and makes sure to answer every question asked by students. Online exams and homework make failing this class a challenge.

Paul is awesome. He brings a very good vibe to his lectures, which aren't very long, and genuinely cares about his students. All tests are online so you can take them at home and use notes/textbook and the only homework in the lecture portion of geo is an online assignment each week. I highly recommend this class I didnt get an A but its easy to

Pual Thomas is one of the best professors I have had at WWU. His tests were a little tough, but as long as you attend the lectures and do the homework you'll be fine. There are three extra credit opportunities. DON'T BUT THE THE BOOK, JUST THE LEARN SMART.

I've taken multiple classes with Paul, and he's by far my favorite prof. His tests are hard, but if you learn to anticipate what he'll focus them on, they're not bad. He's really funny and very approachable. Be prepared for Google Earth trips every. single. lecture. He does expect you to read the textbook to supplement his lectures.

Very clear lecturer. Also goes over everything on the test the day before it goes up on Canvas. Requires online textbook and testing once a week which is time consuming and an dry. Lectures are similar to the book, but I preferred going to class over reading. Funny and really into what he's teaching. I considered a geo minor after taking his class.

A lot of people didn't like this class, but I found that Paul made it very entertaining and easy to learn. He is very understanding and kind, and hilarious too! Good answers to student questions. You really don't need the textbook. Tests are basically just his PowerPoint slides in question form. Make some flashcards and you'll be fine!

Paul is a great prof! He is very funny and entertaining during lectures and the lectures are very interesting. The labs are boring but easy. Don't buy the book before the class, there is this terrible online program that is through the book that is required. Other than that would take Paul again!

What an amazing teacher. Paul will charm the pants off of you while teaching you about the topic of the day. He is a sweetheart and identifies with the students on a personal level. If you want to learn about rocks without boredom, go for Paul. He played Pokemon-Go with us in class. He also curves and will give you points back on exams. TRUE BRO!

Paul was super laid back and an personable professor, we actually became pretty good friends. I enjoyed him and his class. Definitely recommend him for geology.

Paul is an awesome professor. The only thing that sucks is that the course feels like its going at different paces. The lab goes fast, you have to do these weekly assignments that take a good hour to complete and the class goes by at a slower pace. Great professor, but hate how the class is set up (or geology 101 course structure).

Paul is such a gem and so amazing. If I could take all of his classes I would. He is truly such an understanding guy and is so helpful when it comes toward class. Gives multiple extra credit assignments and the online assignments you'll always get 100% on. The class is super easy. Get to know Paul and it'll make it so much better.

I loved Paul! I just took the class for a GUR and absolutely enjoyed it. The tests are all online but they are challenging so you still need to study a little bit and take it with a friend. He's very passionate about geology and is very personable and funny in his lectures. It is quite a bit of work with the lab and everything but it's manageable

Paul is one of the most down to earth understanding professors i've had so far. He really does genuinely care about educating you to your utmost potential and having you receive the best grade possible. The readings are pretty heavy and the tests are often times confusing. Most test Q's are textbook based so definitely recommend reading.

Thomas is an excellent professor. He used the class test results and adjusted the course accordingly; when the class as a whole did poorly on a test, he would allow us to take a second attempt. Thomas was funny and engaging; going to lectures are not necessary but he does attempt to make them more interesting.

I love Paul, he's one of my favorite professors on campus. He's super chill and geology is a lot of fun. This class is very basic, but you'll have a good time and get an easy A.

Paul Thomas is great! He is funny and cares if you show him you care. Go to his office and ask questions. HE WILL HELP!! He has an adorable puppy named Chewey so be ready to look at cute pictures. His tests are hard and he tells you. Just read his powerpoints and the notes below them. He will ask questions that are specific so think ahead.

One of my favorite professors at wwu. Lecture isn't necessary but very helpful for the exams. His exams are hard but he warns you about it and suggests some strategies (such as reading through the lecture slide footnotes). Really fun and interesting class where you can see what you've learned in the beautiful cascades!

Paul is great, he is passionate about the material and always ready to laugh and have a good time. Lectures are really informative and structured in a logical manner. I'm not a heavy science or math person but his course has made a lot of sense to me

You take the tests outside of class and just show up for 50 minutes.

The lectures were on the usual side of excitement, but I cracked a few smiles and laughs. Such a good professor and you can tell how much he truly cares for his students.

Before tests hed give an outline which was super helpful! Hes passionate about geology and actually inspired me to change my major. Hes an awesome guy and was always super helpful when I had questions. The online textbook you have to buy is $100 which sucks but overall a great class.

Paul Thomas is truly great. I took GEOL101 for my first LSCI GUR, and he made the class so enjoyable and fun. Hes totally the guy to level with you and genuinely wants everyone to do well. He even goes over an outline for all the exams apart from the final, telling you which sections the questions are on, ergo, where to find answers. Loves to laugh

Paul had a good sense of humor, energetic, and enjoys teaching! Tests are text book heavy and open book, but some test questions will come straight from his lectures so you should try to go to most of them. Labs are interesting and not extremely difficult. Would recommend for an easy science GUR!

Labs are where the big points are. Tests are online and open-note, but difficult. Most students got B's on the tests.

Took Thomas' class for a lab science GUR. His lecture are information heavy and dense, but the class is only 50 mins. Lab is ok, reminds me of a high school lab. Basically only graded on exams, which are online and are textbook based. You can also take it whenever you want over a series of days. Hard tests though, so lectures help. Offers EC.

This is for Paul's Geomorph class, not 101. Lectures were decent and fairly interesting. Labs were varied and interesting, though for each one you had to write a group paper. Field trips were a highlight, be ready for all weather. Could get by without the textbook, but still get it. Get a head start on your term project, its easy to fall behind.

Typical science class, but his agenda is student learning, not pounding through his powerpoints. Refreshingly caring and nice guy. Attendance is necessary (you can miss 3 classes), however lab is not optional you have to go every week. Tests are online! They still aren't so easy but after minor studying and paying attention in class an A is doable.

His tests are online, open book, open notes, open people, but HARD! Study and you'll do well!

Super nice guy overall, willing to work with students cause he wants everyone to succeed. Says textbook is required but I didn't really need it until the tests. Tests are spread out throughout the quarter, and he always gives a brief but really specific review. Would always make a point to talk to students if he saw us around the building too!

the textbook can be helpful but if you pay attention or take notes in class you wont need it at all. i didnt really take notes and just came to class and did ok. all quizes and tests are online, except lab quizzes. Pretty funny and good guy. he shows some cool videos in class sometimes. take this class to see some chert.

This class was hard for me- I'm not really naturally geared towards geology, and the tests, while open book, are really hard. Having the textbook as you do your test doesn't mean you'll do well. However, the teacher himself is a great guy, and I appreciate that a lot! Very funny and approachable and caring. Brought us cookies on the last day.

Paul is pretty lit. The class wasn't too difficult, but my T.A. graded harshly on my assignments. If you show up for lecture, you should have little to no problems keeping a good grade.

tests are all online which is really nice. He takes attendance so its worth it to go to class.

Paul's lectures are very interesting and he gives great examples. This is one class that I wish was longer because Paul is arguably one of the best professors I have had. He obviously has a passion for geology and makes sure that his class is fun yet informational. All of the tests are online meaning you can use the book and outside resources.

He loves what he does and cares about his students.

You need to go to his class. For one attendance matters, not just fo the grade, but for the notes, because you will need it for the exams. His exams are hard and you really need to study in order to pass. It's online though, but studying will help. He's a caring person and would help students achieve a good grade in his class.

He is a great teacher and is clearly dedicated to his field. He's very friendly and gives decently entertaining lectures, even if they're about rocks. Tests are open book and notes. On review days before a test he'll give you the page numbers you'll need to find the test information. Tests can be difficult, but rightfully so.

If you show up and pay attention, you'll do fine. he's really into the material so it's never boring. The labs are a little difficult sometimes. Also, you get to look at tsunami and earthquake videos.

Paul was really nice and passionate about geology and made lectures fun. I do agree with the people saying the exams and lab were a little tough. Form a study group asap. As a non-science major, I had a little tough time on the tests even though I went to every lecture/took notes. Lab was doable if you do all the hw/extra credit.

Paul is an amazing professor, made it clear he cared about our learning from the first day, very available to his students and super funny. HIGHLY recommend him as a professor.

Paul is great, but this course definitely had more homework then GEOL 101. The tests were difficult, but he really does care about everyone being successful. Hes a real weather nerd, so if you are too you'll love this course.

Such a nice guy with great lectures. All tests online. Labs were somewhat challenging

I don't like science and he made it interesting. He was understanding, and made the class easy (as it should be considering it was a 101 class). Tests are online and open note, you can take them with other people. He is passionate about the subject. If you want to take geology and not have it be super difficult and boring, this is the class!

This class was very easy and definitely work the GUR and lab. Paul is very accommodating and approachable. The lab portion, however, was taught by graduate students and my TA was not the best. 4 online tests including the final, extra credit opportunities and he has you do an online check-in for attendance points, which you can google if you miss.

I don't like rocks... however, Paul made the course really enjoyable. I HIGHLY appreciate the fact that he lets you choose the format of your exams. He also is very easy with grading when it comes to concept sketches!

He truly cares about the material he lectures on and encourages his students to be excited about geology. Cool videos and PowerPoints. Go to class it is actually interesting and easy.

This class is a must take for a lab science GUR! Paul has a great reputation on campus. He has all online exams which are great. The final is decently challenging but I did well with minimal preparation on the three other exams. Lab also wasn't bad and if you do well in it that can really boost your grade in the overall class. Would take again

Paul was a great professor! He really cares about his students and wants you to succeed. Not a hard class, tests are online (except for the rock quiz and lab final, but both are not too difficult if you study)! The labs are not super hard either, and are actually pretty cool. Overall had an awesome experience with this professor and class :)

I love this class comprehendible and fun. Paul Thomas is such a fun lecture and lab is nice and great with great TAs. I highly recommend this class for lab science. It makes me consider geology as a minor. All exams are open-note and online, and he goes through and gives you a guide to every exam.

Fine teacher for Geology 101. Most of the grades are done via online tests that all the answers can be found on Quizlet or Chegg. There is an attendance pop quiz every day in class for points to show you were there. Paul is a good and energetic teacher, but I had a bad TA for my lab. Take a little bit of notes and its easy!

Paul understands that this is both a GUR class and treats it accordingly in terms of workload but still manages to keep his lectures interesting. Doing the EC opportunities in class and lab is an easy way to give your grade a generous boost. All tests are online and he often gives a guide for each question, highly recommend for an easy science GUR.

Paul is a seriously great professor that really cares about his students. If you email him questions he readily helps you out and really wants to make sure you succeed. His lectures are interesting and the work he assigns is fair for the content of the class.

Great and funny prof that has a quiz every class that acts as attendance. You will learn a lot and he is great at answering questions. Highly recommend

Paul really cares about making the class interesting and basic for geology 101. Hes a very nice guy and easy to reach. The only thing is go to class because you get points off that and to pay attention. The lab was extremely easy. I loved the rock quiz. I only wish Paul had a study guide for tests cause the tests are hard.

Paul is a literal Angel. Best prof I've ever had. He really cares about his students and their understanding. If you need extra time on things he's good about working with you to get them done. Willing and able to help if you need extra help. He doesn't require a textbook, but I did find it helpful.

Paul is AMAZING. he reminds everyone of a cool uncle. such a cute and funny guy and you can tell he really cares. sits in the lecture seats before class and talks to the students.. just don't leave his class early or he will get genuinely sad

Has great lectures. All exams were online. There was a time limit, so there isn't enough time to look up or read your book for every single answer, so you should still study before if you want to do your best. The lab section of the class is taught by a graduate student, and is fairly easy so long as you just show up.

I think he's a really great professor. He doesn't talk like a textbook as a lot of other professors do. He genuinely wants his students to understand each topic well. If you are struggling or don't get something, go to his office hours, he is very helpful. DISCLAIMER: As of 2019 he doesn't have open note tests anymore.

Paul is such a sweet angel man he is so nice and v forgiving. He whole class did badly on a test so he let us retake the exam outside class open note. You have to show up for lecture but its not even a problem because he makes it totally fun to be there.

Paul really cares about his students. I don't know why there are so many bad reviews lately, he noticed that our class average was a 70% so he's letting us retake the test and average out our scores. He is super helpful if you go into his office hours and ask questions. The exam are hard but overall, it's a fun class.

Great professor. Lectures are full of information so you need to come to class to pass the class imo. Also, the textbook has some good information that you need to read as well. People that don't read or come to lectures get below average grades because the exams have some specific questions. He really cares for the class learning. Great professor.

Paul is a very enthusiastic and fun teacher! I enjoyed his lectures. A lot of students seemed to struggle with this class this quarter. He's a mildly unsympathetic when it comes to your test grade, which is a bummer, since the class is mostly graded on the exams, and the exams were tough. There is no homework except for reading. The lab was cool!

Paul is a really good guy and an enjoyable professor, but his tests are much harder than his lectures would lead you to believe. Write down everything he says because his slides are mostly pictures. The average class grades on tests ranged between a D and a C.

Paul is an awesome prof. His lectures a great and very interesting. He works in cool pictures and videos so you don't get bored. Attendance is not mandatory but there is a check in question everyday that adds up to 10% of your grade. Exams were actually quite difficult, with averages in the low C's even with the use of notecards. Study hard.

Paul was my favorite professor this quarter. As long as you attend class and study using the review posted on canvas you're going to do just fine. One notecard for exams was more than generous compared to many other STEM professors. Kind man who wants students to succeed, its not his job to make you study.

Paul is one of the best professors I've had so far. Geology 101 was a class I wasn't really excited for going into fall quarter but Paul made Geology fun and interesting. His enthusiasm for the subject and his humor really sold the class for me. He really cares about feedback for tests and tries to improve the exams based on our feedback too.

Paul is an overall cool guy. Skipping class won't hinder your grade dramatically but you might regret it when you get to the tests. He wants you to pass and frequently asks for student opinions on how the class could be more helpful. Take one of his classes if you can!

Paul was a great teacher! He had a lot of passion for the subject and showed this clearly in his engaging and fun lectures. He was incredibly aware of student understanding and always did his best to make sure we understood the content before anything else.

This was a general "getting to know science" class, which was not a hard class to begin with. Paul was great though, very caring, constantly making sure we were good not just in class but with our overall feeling of WWU, if we had advisors, classes we needed, etc. I would def take him for a GEOL class (his wheelhouse).

Paul cares so much. He is very understanding and has a passion for geology. This quarter has been completely online and he has adjusted so well. He makes sure that people are given ample time to complete assignments and exams. Lots of material, but he makes it fun and interesting. He is not a hard grader!

The best. That's all.

Paul is my favorite professor at Western. I originally took Geology as a GUR, but ended up choosing it as a minor because of how much I loved 101 with Paul. Tests can be tough, so be sure to study, but all material is covered in lectures. I definitely recommend getting to know Paul Thomas if you get the chance!

He is a super nice guy! I didnt get to interact with him much due to online classes but he is caring and helpful in emails, and his material makes sense. The labs can be kind of tough but exams are the exact same questions as the practice quizzes. You can easily get an A in this class if you study the practice stuff! Hardest thing was rock quiz!

Paul is awesome! I have him for the earth & its weather in a synchronous zoom class. His canvas page is set up SO clearly and it's very straightforward. This class also isn't very hard--we spend one class a week talking about the upcoming weather we will see and the other doing small group activities. He makes online classes fun and engaging.

I like Paul, he responded well to emails and was super understanding. I'm not a geology person as I found out but overall he was helpful when needed. The tests were not too hard just do the practice questions (they are pretty much the same). Hardest thing for me was the labs because they were online but I got good feedback on them.

I found this class to be pretty challenging, but Paul is an excellent professor. You should expect multiple assignments and meetings each week. The workload got overwhelming sometimes, but Paul is so easy to get in touch with, and he's happy to help. Exams are 2 parts- multiple choice test and a few labs. Plan ahead with your work and study often.

Paul was very funny and I overall enjoyed the class. His lectures were fun because he would go on tangents.

I loved Paul! He was one of the best teachers I have ever taken for a GUR. He had amazing in class time and the class wasn't too hard. It was split in lecture and lab with three days a week lecture and 1 day a week for the lab component. The labs are taught by grad students. My TA was named Slone, she was the best. Also lab 9 is a field trip!

Paul is fantastic. Knowledgeable and entertaining prof. Homework was one quiz per week (10-20 questions) that could be taken infinitely & those questions reappeared verbatim on the tests, so studying was breezy. Lots of reading but it's ok to skim if you just do the quizzes 10 times. Not very easy by any means, but rewarding and interesting :)

Funny

I like Paul! he is really a great professor. Although, geology lab isn't fun at all since our TA didn't help with any assignments. so, except to happen during the lab, otherwise, I really love this course and would love to take his course again in the future.

Paul is literally the best professor I've had at WWU thus far!! He is so helpful and funny and I have taken two classes from him and both were fantastic.

Paul is amazing, best teacher at WWU! He makes learning about Geology easy.

Professor Thomas was really good at making sure people understood the info, always available outside class, and never made anyone feel stupid for asking questions. He does take attendance but if you know the material you can answer attendance questions outside of class and still get credit. Really cool class.

His class does require a textbook, but it is online, free, and provided at the beginning of the quarter in class. There are attendance check-ins on Canvas at the start of each class to track attendance. The lectures are interesting and fun, and the homework/tests stay true to the material.

super good professor, you can tell that he cares about the information he is teaching. very realistic when it comes to hw. hw and exams are easy. super chill class

Paul's classroom culture was so positive, low-key, encouraging, and fun to be a part of. I typically struggle with classroom anxiety, but his was a pleasure to attend. Lectures are important to attend and his tests can be challenging, but he is fair and understanding. Would love to take another class with him!

Paul has been one of my favorite teachers here at Western by far. His lectures were always kept fun and light hearted, he really cares about talking and creating relationships with his students. He is a fair grader and offers extra credit poster (easy) that can raise your grade a whole letter. This class almost made me change my major to geology.

Paul is probably one of my favorite teachers ever. He explains things well, is funny, forgiving, and loves the curriculum he teaches. He has super engaging lectures and a lot of hands-on activities. There is one 4-5 question homework every week, and if you pay attention it really isn't hard. Long powerpoints but super fun and interesting,

Paul is great. Literally was the deciding factor on my choose of major

Paul is great but ONE thing about him is that he literally will not reply to emails, I know he sees them too he told me he sees them

Long class and lectures, but he makes them interesting. Get to work in groups on labs and with his direct help which is nice. Cool and funny guy. Only problem I had is that he would not respond to my emails even when they were really urgent. He was also accepting of feedback on the style of tests.

He was very passionate about what he taught but his lectures were hard to follow when I took the class during fall quarter. There were barely any words on his powerpoint's so you really had to listen which can be hard to do. Tests were fairly simple but a lot was focused a lot on the textbook I felt which was something we never went through.

Very passionate, entertaining, and made the content fun to learn. Ask as many questions as you can, he would love to answer them. Homework is easy and can be re-done until you get 100%, tests are the same questions as the homework.

I loved having Paul as a professor. He was very kind and made geology interesting. I would totally recommend him to anyone who wants to take geology as a GUR because he made it easy and understandable for everyone. He does ramble a lot during lectures but for someone not very interested in Geology he made it interesting.

Paul is hilarious and weird but in a good way. He was definitely an excellent professor to have for GEOL 101. His lectures and slides are straightforward, and there was a lot of information to take in, but it was all pretty simple to get down.

Paul is such a great professor, I loved coming to lectures because he always tried to make class fun. His slides were always very informative and good to look back on for homework and studying, he is also really clear on how he grades, as long as you show up for lectures and Lab and do the work you should be able to get a good grade in the class

Paul is a wonderful man and his lectures are engaging, he made me want to come to class. He explains concepts well and is passionate about what he teaches. Test were online which was nice. Concepts got more complex over the quarter so reading the textbook would be a good idea to fully understand material. Lab was also not bad.

Very nice and caring, solid guy 10/10. Lectures weren't too boring, lab every week, tests/homework online. The test questions are from the homework so if you take notes and review the homework then you'll be fine

He is such a caring professor. He makes the class interesting and fun. Geology isn't my thing but I enjoy the class because of his teaching style. Labs can sometimes be hard though. Make sure to take the homework as many times as possible as prep for exams.

Paul is an amazing prof, he clearly likes his field and it shows with how he teaches. Paul is funny, smart, and will make learning easy because you actually want to listen and learn. Attendance isn't necessarily mandatory, but missing class could potentially hurt your grade. I wish i was a geology major so I could take more of his classes.

He is so sweet and passionate about rocks and his students. When he teaches about natural disasters, you can really tell he genuinely cares about his students. He really wants us to be prepared and take the risks seriously. joyful and excited professor.

Paul was awesome! He did an attendance check in for each class. Every week there was a homework due and the exams pulled questions directly off the homework so very easy to study!

Paul is an amazing professor who cares for his students. The lectures are amazing and cover all of the content on the exams. The organization is done well, Paul is very helpful in his feedback and office hours, and he does a great job making himself approachable. The class can be a lot of work for a 200-level but I highly recommend it.

This class was super fun and easy. The lab was a bit tedious, but with the right group it could be fun! Paul is super caring and chill as long as you try your best and are respectful. Also, all the homework is super easy and able to be retaken until you get 100%.

While attendance is mandatory, I like to go just because hes such a funny chill guy. He recognizes the fact most people take this as a lab sci GUR, but still makes the best of it. All the exams/quizzes are online, and labs can be brutal but you have a week to finish them. If you have to take the GUR, it's an easy one, and I recommend my guy Paul.

He clearly loves what he teaches, and the lectures were enjoyable. The weekly assignments are reused as test questions, makes it really easy to study/pass the tests. The lab was easy, and honestly it was a great class.

Took for a GUR and wasn't expecting it to be too hard. The homeworks are almost exactly what is on the tests. He makes non interesting material bareable and fun.

super funny, engaging lectures.

Very approachable, great as a teacher and person. 10/10 GUR, could've inspired me to be a geology major if I weren't already committed to something else.