Eastern’s small college atmosphere and close relationship between faculty and students is what attracted Barbara Nemecek, one of two final candidates for the position of dean in the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, to apply for the position.

“I like the students. I want to be in a small institution where the interaction between faculty and students is high,” Nemecek told faculty, students and staff Thursday in Lumpkin Hall.

Nemecek also said she wants to be in a state that values higher education.

“I’m not so sure we do value higher education in Montana, but you do here,” Nemeck said, referring to the current state she works in.

Nemecek is currently the dean of the College of Business in Montana State University, which has recently developed a significant amount of online courses, something Eastern is gearing up to accomplish.

“In two years we have put all the core business classes online,” Nemecek said. “We are also half way through the process of developing a masters program online.”

Nemecek said she believes online education is effective for introductory classes, but she isn’t sure if it is as effective for advanced courses.

“The data that we have to date from our assessments proves that online education is a convenience, at least,” Nemecek said.

Nemecek also offered some hint at what she may do for Eastern’s historic lack of funding.

“We have the exact same problem at Billings. Rather than to complain about being on the bottom of the totem pole, I have found it better to look for new ways of increasing funding,” Nemecek said.

Looking for partnerships with businesses, politicians and industries is one away Nemecek said she would seek untraditional funding.

“Funding sources will not always remain the same,” Nemecek said.

Nemeck also stated she was in full support of accreditation for the accounting department and all fields.

“It is a treacherous and hard task, but I feel it is necessary to evaluate quality and to continue to look at how to do things better,” Nemecek said.