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Identifying BEAC Members

BEAC members connect the school with the wider community and represent organizations that have something concrete to contribute to the program. A BEAC with members from varied sectors of the community can greatly enhance the Ford PAS program. Potential BEAC members may be people who already have personal connections to Ford PAS staff, teachers, administrators, families, and other BEAC members. This section briefly describes the importance of BEAC members from specific sectors of the community and initial steps that a program coordinator or coordination team can take to identify them.

Business partners
Because the potential contributions of business are so numerous and varied (from arranging for classroom speakers, workplace visits, job shadow experiences, and summer internships to providing technical assistance and planning expertise), an effective BEAC should include a number of business partners, who can be drawn from both large and small businesses in your area. To locate potential business partners, identify companies that have community relations and education as part of their missions. If your community has a local chamber of commerce or a Rotary Club, you might start by contacting those groups. For help in determining the individuals in those companies who are most likely to be effective BEAC members, contact the director of public relations or community relations, or the manager of human resources.

Higher education representatives
In some regions, a college or university may be the host of a regional Ford PAS partnership, and one or more representatives of that institution will be part of the BEAC. Where no regional partnership has been established, the BEAC should still include several higher education representatives. Effective BEAC members may be faculty working in specific academic departments or staff of offices whose purpose is to link the college or university with the community. To begin developing a higher education partnership, introduce the Ford PAS program to staff and faculty at one or more of these offices and departments:

• The community relations or outreach office
• Academic departments that support research and learning in fields relevant to the Ford PAS program, such as engineering, design, business, management, education, or environmental studies (some departments may have specific staff or faculty members that are responsible for community outreach)
• The continuing education department (at some universities, this is the main outreach office, which may be able to provide leads to appropriate faculty members)
• The cooperative extension services at land grant universities

Members of professional organizations and trade associations
Because professional organizations and trade associations provide career assistance to their members, and many offer outreach programs for young people, they may be excellent sources for BEAC members. Some professional organizations host programs for young people through colleges and universities. Some work to bring historically underrepresented groups into their fields. To find out if there are members or programs in your area, contact the professional and trade organizations listed in Professional Organizations on the Web site.

Community leaders
Leaders of business, religious, education, service, labor, and political associations can provide or link schools to varied program resources. Chambers of commerce, Workforce Investment Boards, service groups (such as Rotary, Elks, and Lions Clubs), school boards, and government agencies responsible for workforce development are good starting points for identifying community leaders and supportive organizations.

Local school administrators and guidance counselors
Including a school administrator and/or a guidance counselor on the BEAC is a good way to build influential support for the program within the school. Administrators and counselors can provide invaluable aid as interpreters and advocates/recruiters for the program with other school staff, teachers, and students.

Ford PAS teachers, students, and family members
At least one Ford PAS teacher, student, and family member should participate in BEAC activities, as each provides a different perspective on program needs:

• Teachers can best interpret the needs of the program to BEAC members from outside the school. Teachers’ participation will help to ensure that their students gain experience in out-of-school settings and will aid in bringing resources from the community into the classroom in ways that are both timely and effective.
• The presence of one or more students at BEAC meetings reminds the other members that the purpose of the BEAC is to enhance students’ opportunities for learning. Students who participate in BEAC meetings will also gain from their contact with community and business leaders. Having one or two student representatives rotate every half semester will allow more students to contribute.
• The presence of one or more family members of Ford PAS students helps to build family support and understanding. Family members can help recruit other family members to help with specific events as needed. Through their workplace connections, religious affiliations, and participation in clubs or other organizations, family members may be helpful in making contacts with local media to cover Ford PAS events, identifying support within the community for educational enrichment experiences, and recruiting other BEAC members.

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