Pillsbury, Norm  

First of all, allow me to address the fact that Dr. Pillsbury is unaware that FNR 140 is a one-unit class. I had to do more work in that class than all my other classes combined, and even though I went all out on every single assingment I still didn't pass. The class itself was decent, but Dr. Pillsbury went a little overboard on a power trip. If he found the slightest thing wrong with an assignment the student would not pass the class. He pretends to be a nice, reasonable man, but do not be fooled. Be prepared to do some MAJOR ass-kissing if you want to pass this class.

I went into this class expecting to be encouraged and excited about my new major, but instead I had an overwhelming urge to switch. Norm pretends to be a nice guy, but he didn't pass me because I failed to understand his confusing computer program after even going to his office and asking for help. Bear in mind this is also a one unit class!! He made my entire quarter a miserable experience.

People who have already filled out a form for this class [namely the above two people] need to stop bitching. This class was extremely easy if you even did a half-ass job. Norm is an awesome teacher who was always welcoming towards me and open to talk for his entire office hour with me if I didn't understand something. Okay, maybe he gets a little excited and can be a tad scatter-brained, but how would y ou feel if you had to run the entire NRM department. In my opnion, if you do the work, which is was easy, getting an A should not be a problem. And if you don't get an A, it is so easy to get your grade changed after the fact. Norm is nice and very lenient, so if you don't have the grade you want, go and talk to him and I can guarantee that if he sees that you actually care about your grade, he will change it.

No problems with Norm, he's a great guy and this is an EASY class. Just go to it and ask him for help if you need it and youre guaranteed credit in the class. He changes the workload from a lot to a little through the quarter.

This class is pretty easy and actually helpful. You make your "graduation plan" so that you know what classes to take when. (whether you can get them or not is another problem) We learn all about our major and the different concentrations. To pass just go to class and do the few assignments. None of which are hard except for the carrers assignment. This took quite a lot of time for me, but i wish i hadn't spent so long on it. i think i took it too seriously. remember it is a CR/NC class and hes not going to fail you if your information is a little off. I'm sure he didnt read them all so just make sure everything is the right length and get some key words in there.

He's really helpful. I was in another FNR class I just couldn't grasp and asked him for help. He took the time after his class to show me how to do it. Very cool. His 201 class was informative. He has some neat videos, but tends to read off his powerpoints, so if you can't handle being read to, good luck. Overall, a very cool FNR teacher. Looking forward to having him for more classes.

Norm is a really nice guy who loves to teach forestry. This is your basic powerpoint lecture class, which gets boring. There are a few out of class activities to mix it up. There is little homework and overall an easy class. The test are what kills everyone, be sure and know ALL the material on the powerpoint. Be sure and know all the terminology. Good foundation class for Forestry majors.

Norm is a pretty cool guy, really easy-going. He literally reads the powerpoints that he posts on blackboard so you only need to go to class when theres an inclass assignment you have to do. I missed over a month of this past quarter and still got an A without getting the book, if that puts it into perspective.

Professor Pillsbury is the very boring. He speaks in the same voice every day throughout the quarter, makes you want to go to sleep. Go to every lecture, they all count towards your grade and not going to one can make the difference between your grade

This class is as hard as youve heard it is. Probly much harder, I was working on excel stuff almost every night. Lots of assignments and projects. Norm is a very nice guy and will try his best to help, but its still the class from hell, be prepared!

I had Dr. Pillsbury for FNR 140, 315, and 419. He's very knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions both during lecture and office hours. He's a cool guy but gets tougher and more demanding as you work your way up the FNR curriculum. He puts a lot of emphasis in lab write ups. He expects your lab write up formats to meet every single detail and requirement he mentions. Otherwise he will deduct a great amount of points even if the content is correct. Pay attention to lab write up formats, sequence, border around the paragraphs, and how you state your points. He also checks for spelling and grammar. Mensuration is tough but make sure your measurements are precise and correct. Otherwise he will make you measure all 20 trees again when you go to Swanton Pacific Ranch. The computer programs are very difficult to follow in all three of these classes so pay attention, take notes, ask questions and don't miss any lectures or labs. It's extremely hard to get back on track if you fall behind in any of these courses. He present a lot of material in every lecture. Try to find a partner so you can help each other out. He's a tough grader so watch out!

Norm Kicks but- I have had him in FNR 140, FNR 315. and FNR 419. THe material in 315 and 419 can be particularly confusing but Norm knows his stuff. The only problem is he will teach you more than you ever wanted to know about the subject. Given the opportunity I would take norm again. He is tough but he geniunely cares about the students and will do what he can to help when you ask him. His biggest weakness is he sometimes talks a little fast - this is most likely a side effect to his over indulgence in mountain dew.

If you are going to take this be ready for a quarter from hell. His teaching is all over the place, demands everything, and will challenge your questions with a question back to you. I have never disliked a class from having a teacher ruin it so badly. A student in our class came late to one of the field trips and Pillsbury said that he was dropped from the class, later Pillsbury reconsidered. Another situation on the field trip was when some of us wore hiking boots, he said that those weren't the footwear that was suggested to wear and made some go into town to get the "suggested" footwear. Later he told the students that they were the worst group that he had ever had taught in his decades of teaching the class. If you have the choice to not take this teacher I strongly advise you to not take it with him and if you can put if off till he retires that would be the best choice. best of luck.

Just like everyone says, this is the class from hell. I'm finishing my BS in forestry and have taken almost all of the 400 level stuff. This class is over and above the work load of anything else. I cannot believe the grade I got considering what I most likely got on his final, which was ridiculously hard. The class is soo much information, he was teaching us new methods during dead week. I would consider taking Dr. Gill if possible. All things aside, Norm is the man. He is one of the industries best and it shows. Do all of his extra credit offered, helps down the line. the incident listed below about the boots did happen and it was unfortunate. The whole class heard it over the radio at swanton. All and all, if u want to learn the shit outta sampling, Norms your guy, but beware, excel assignments every other class and assignments that have to be in an anal format are pretty standard. Good luck.

norm is tough and rigid. he talks way too fast and mumbles, so if you're not right in the front of the class you may miss a lot of things that he says. he will often say something very specific, and very important, but will say it so fast and quietly that hardly anyone will catch it. which really sucks because he expects you to remeber EVERYTHINGhe tends to not really answer students' questions, he'll either not get at all what you're trying to ask or he will give a really vague answer.

Norm is a cool guy; lectures were not awful. However, the tests blew me out of the water. The class is based entirely on the mt 30%, final 30%, and lab 40%. The midterm had a 15pt curve because we all did so poorly. Study everything, especially the labs! He will ask T/F, multiple choice, short answer, fill in the blank. Expect the unexpected. He will ask for knick-picky details and broad concepts. Avoid this class if you can.

Norm knows his stuff, however this was the most work intensive course I have ever taken. Be prepared going in. Upon completion of this course you will have a stack of lab reports 3-4 inches thick. Prepare yourself for the two weeks following the Swanton Pacific field trip you will be required to turn in 10 lab reports in that two week span averaging 13-15 pages each. Make sure you get a jump on all assignments as it is easy to get left behind. That being said, this was an interesting class and Norm teaches it well and shows much enthusiasm.

I thought Norm did an excellent job. He's very knowledgeable, helpful, positive, and approachable. He asks alot of us on tests and lab writeups, but is reasonable. His only fault is he drinks too much Mountain Dew. Excellent course and professor.