Tom Downard is a Communication professor at Northeastern University rated 2.0/5 by 41 students, with 2.7/5 difficulty (TRACE + RateMyProfessors + Reddit, updated July 2026).
Tom Downard professor reviews and ratings: 2.0/5 from 41 student reviews at Northeastern. TRACE + RateMyProfessor + Reddit.
I'd never heard of a communications professor that did not communicate with his class...until now. Grades everything last minute with no feedback, gives arbitrary grades. Does not reply to emails, even with follow up emails sent. If I had him as a freshman, I would have possibly transferred. Changes grading criteria on a whim. Very poor teacherCMN2320 2012-12-19 12:29:12 +0000 UTC
Very disappointing on his lack of interst and care to the students in his classCMN2350 2012-12-12 11:37:10 +0000 UTC
awful!CMN101 2009-02-20 12:34:39 +0000 UTC
The Comm Department has finally come up with a book for this class which eliminated alot of the problems Downard had. He is clear on whats being taught bc its straight from the book. He also changed all his exams from essay form to all multiple choice/true and false. The final paper is roughly 8 pages and is due on the day of the scheduled final.CMNU101 2009-01-16 01:35:56 +0000 UTC
I graduated a few years ago, so I don't know if he has improved, but Downard was one of the poorest professors in the Comm department. He was unprepared to teach almost every day, and often sounded as if he was following someone else's lesson plan. Avoid him if you can.NEGSKIL 2008-06-18 19:21:16 +0000 UTC
In order to do well in Professor Downard's classes you need to stay true to the rubric and just ignore all his weird/quirky tendencies. He is a nice guy, just not the best professor or explainer and his projects can sometimes become unclear and undirected. Once he gets to know you, he tends to grade easier so just kiss up and you'll be fineCMNU231 2007-03-28 11:57:38 +0000 UTC
As a class, it is fairly easy but he makes it harder than necessary. Quizzes are pretty easy; just read the text and you are set. As far as speeches go, he is an unfair grader and although he encourages students to discuss grades with him, when you actually go... he does nothing about it. My section is also the only one to have a final exam.. greatCMN112 2006-11-30 12:16:26 +0000 UTC
i dont remember what the course number is - its intro to org comm ... but i remember how terrible the class was becaue of him, friends of mine who took the class with other professors didnt hate the class, yet I did, thanks to himCOMM200 2006-11-03 14:55:54 +0000 UTC
He makes the class very easy to do ok in. He's not very bright, doesn't know what he's talking about half the time, and is VERY monotonous. He doesn't grade harshly, but will sometimes randomly take off a point here or there on writing assignments just so you don't receive a perfect score.INTROTOCOMM 2006-01-04 15:07:39 +0000 UTC
I took foundations of comm with him 3 years ago. One of the worst classes I ever took. I wish I had took it with someone else. I got a B in an easy A class because he disliked me for no reason. First grade you get is generally the one you get in the class. Avoid.FOUNDATIONS 2006-01-02 21:17:42 +0000 UTC
Oh my god try to avoid taking a class with this man if possible. I agree, I don't know how he's still teaching at NU. He teaches Zaremba's stuff so he has no idea what he's talking about. Very unclear and very boring. Stupidly funny jokes here and there...but awful teacher.INTROORGCOMM 2005-09-15 13:37:02 +0000 UTC
I have no idea how this guy is still teaching at NU. tests are basically for 8th graders, he lacks general human knowledge that most people acquire before age 15. the class was so simple, I just had to laugh. don't take a downard class if you want to learn something.CONFLICTNEGOT 2005-06-30 11:50:09 +0000 UTC
His exams are terrible. Terribly written questions, with multiple answers that seem right. He grades tougher than he should for a class that is so stupid. He is very unclear when explaining projects, even when you ask him questions.ORGCOMM231 2005-04-28 13:51:45 +0000 UTC
kind of boring class but easy to get through, fun projects. he is such a sweetheart!!! nice, easygoing, helpful, available, funny and soooo sweet!! but, he may seem like one but is NOT an easygrader, tests are tough!! recommend to have him as a professorORGCOMM 2005-04-06 21:26:18 +0000 UTC
Hated it! He has no grading system, thorws out grades and you can't argue them becasue there no system to refer to. He doesnt know the material. He had questions on our midterm/final that he gave us automatic credit for because he didnt know why the answer was what it was! Made class a wasteCONFLICTTHEORY 2005-04-03 19:54:34 +0000 UTC
Tom Downard has an average rating of 2.0/5 from 41 student reviews.
Tom Downard's classes have a difficulty rating of 2.7/5 based on student reviews.
Data updated July 2026.