Communication professor Matt Swan doesn’t think of himself as a stud muffin. But according to five students who evaluated him at www.ratemyprofessor.com, he definitely is H-O-T – hot.

Ratemyprofessor.com is a Web site that gives students the opportunity to comment anonymously on classes and teachers. Students can evaluate professors on easiness, helpfulness, clarity and of course, hotness.

Swan is flattered that his students enjoy his class and think he is attractive.

“I try to interact as much as I can with students so I know what material is being understood,” Swan said. “I also try to use humor as much as I can because I find that to be an entertaining way to present material that I am trying to get through to my students.”

Judy Santacaterina, an adviser for Liberal Arts & Sciences and Swan’s wife, was also rated for her hotness on the Web site.

“It is interesting and fun. But I think I would be a little more concerned about how much the students learn in my class,” Santacaterina said. “I think it is a fun thing, but I think I would be more concerned with my teacher evaluations. I really take to heart what those things say.”

After geography professor Lesley Rigg learned about the Web site, she was intrigued about what the students said about her teaching style.

“This is a location where students can be bluntly honest,” Rigg said. “It’s also a place where students can go and find out what professors are good to have and what professors you may want to avoid. I am happy that students like my class. That is definitely one of the goals.”

Rigg said her class tends to be very casual, but it’s not to be mistaken for easy. What she really likes is that whether her class has 10 people or 330, people still feel like they can come and talk to her.

More than 330 NIU professors are on the site listed in alphabetical order. In addition to categories for easiness, helpfulness and clarity, there also is a category for the overall quality of the teacher’s ability. Students also are given a chance to make extra comments.

Ratings consist of good, average and poor quality ratings. The Web site lists the professor’s name, department and overall rating they received by the students who graded them.

History professor Gabe Logan thinks his students who think he is attractive is a clear demonstration of objectivity.

“There are a lot of people who don’t like me, so I think it is one-sided,” Logan said.

More than 3,000 schools in the nation have rated professors on the Web site.