Spring Break
Web site grades SJSU teachers
Kris Anderson
Issue date: 10/17/06 Section: News
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Turning the tables on their professors, students are doing the grading on the Web site www.ratemyprofessors.com, but some San Jose State University teachers are denouncing the site's accuracy.
Some professors say the end of semester Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness forms, or SOTEs, better reveal professor quality, but Ratemyprofessors.com president reports fiscal gains and a high number of users.
"We have had just over a quarter million users visit in the past month," said Patrick Nagle, the 23-year-old president of the Web site.
Founded by SJSU alumnus John Swapceinski, Nagle says the site grew incredibly in popularity over the years.
With more than 9 million current users, Nagle said the site's revenue has increased from $10,000 to around seven figures since October 2005 when he purchased Ratemyprofessors.com with his partner Will DeSantis, 24.
According to Nagle, Swapceinski got the idea after taking a class with an "ogre" of a teacher.
"(Swapceinski) created the site for students to know which professors to take and which to avoid," Nagle said. "This was after he had a bad experience with a professor that left some students in tears."
A rating of a current SJSU professor read: "(This is) the worst professor I have ever had. San Jose State should be ashamed. So many students say the same thing about this woman, but they continue to let her bring bitterness over her personal life into the classroom.
"She plays favorites to anyone who is willing to get her a cookie and hot chocolate at break. Complain about her she will ruin your grade."
Mary Pisapia, a junior majoring in child development, said she used the site both at Mission Community College and at SJSU.
"I've only posted a couple of times," she said. "If I was happy or upset."
Sigurd Meldal, incoming chair for the instruction and student affairs committee in the Academic Senate, thinks students use Ratemyprofessors.com for amusement or outrage.
Some professors say the end of semester Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness forms, or SOTEs, better reveal professor quality, but Ratemyprofessors.com president reports fiscal gains and a high number of users.
"We have had just over a quarter million users visit in the past month," said Patrick Nagle, the 23-year-old president of the Web site.
Founded by SJSU alumnus John Swapceinski, Nagle says the site grew incredibly in popularity over the years.
With more than 9 million current users, Nagle said the site's revenue has increased from $10,000 to around seven figures since October 2005 when he purchased Ratemyprofessors.com with his partner Will DeSantis, 24.
According to Nagle, Swapceinski got the idea after taking a class with an "ogre" of a teacher.
"(Swapceinski) created the site for students to know which professors to take and which to avoid," Nagle said. "This was after he had a bad experience with a professor that left some students in tears."
A rating of a current SJSU professor read: "(This is) the worst professor I have ever had. San Jose State should be ashamed. So many students say the same thing about this woman, but they continue to let her bring bitterness over her personal life into the classroom.
"She plays favorites to anyone who is willing to get her a cookie and hot chocolate at break. Complain about her she will ruin your grade."
Mary Pisapia, a junior majoring in child development, said she used the site both at Mission Community College and at SJSU.
"I've only posted a couple of times," she said. "If I was happy or upset."
Sigurd Meldal, incoming chair for the instruction and student affairs committee in the Academic Senate, thinks students use Ratemyprofessors.com for amusement or outrage.
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