Developing BEAC Activities

Organizing the BEAC | Timeline for BEAC Activities | Sample Program Materials | BEAC Program Feedback Form

Organizing the BEAC

As in any successful organization, members of the BEAC need to take on specific roles and responsibilities. Effective leadership and facilitation are critical. The following steps are recommended:

Appoint or elect a chairperson whose responsibility it is to schedule meetings, develop agendas, and maintain the flow of communication. Some BEACs function well with co-chairs—one person from the school and another from the business or higher education community.
Appoint or elect a secretary whose responsibilities include keeping and distributing the minutes of meetings and all communications from the chairperson.
Other offices or committees may be created as needed at individual sites; for example, committees to recruit additional BEAC members or Ford PAS students may be needed as the Ford PAS program is established.
Set up a schedule of meetings for the year—monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly. Some BEACs try to meet more frequently early in the school year. Each meeting should have a prepared agenda, a time limit, and a facilitator who can keep the group on task.
At each meeting, plan to have a featured presentation to help BEAC members better understand what’s going on in Ford PAS classrooms and how they can contribute. Examples of appropriate presentations include the following:

Teachers can lead BEAC members in activities from the Ford PAS curriculum.
Business and higher education representatives can present guidelines for hosting an effective site visit, job shadow experience, or internship, and can describe their own hosting experiences.
Representatives from one or more businesses’ human resources departments can lead a discussion about being an effective mentor in various settings.
Teachers can present videos of their classrooms and examples of student work.
Business or higher education mentors can make presentations about their experiences working with Ford PAS students.
Because Ford PAS students are developing presentation skills, they may wish to exhibit their module projects or make presentations about their real-world learning experiences.

TOP

Timeline for BEAC Activities

Refer to this timeline for scheduling the ongoing work of the BEAC.

Three to six months prior to the start of the school year

If you are forming a new BEAC, begin identifying potential members. Refer to Identifying BEAC Members for more information.
Recruit members during the winter or spring with personal phone calls and distribution of Ford PAS literature. Refer to Recruiting BEAC Members for more information.
Host an informational meeting for potential BEAC members. Use the Agenda for an Informational Meeting as a resource.

Starting the year

Host an annual program launch reception for Ford PAS coordinators, teachers, students and their family members, and BEAC members. Members of the press should also be invited. Refer to the Agenda for a Program Launch Reception for more information.
Consult with teachers before each semester to determine which modules they will be teaching and what kind of support they would like from the BEAC. Use the Coordinated Learning Experiences (CLE) Chart to prepare a list of specific enrichment activities and dates when they are planned.
Schedule an annual planning meeting. At that meeting, make a schedule of BEAC meetings for the year. Begin identifying featured presentations for each meeting. Refer to Organizing the BEAC for ideas about presentations and for assigning specific roles and responsibilities to BEAC members. Distribute Coordinated Learning Experiences (CLEs) and clarify the importance of the BEAC in promoting and providing CLEs to Ford PAS students. With the help of the Coordinated Learning Experiences (CLE) Chart and the Community Resources Survey, identify specific ways that BEAC members can support Ford PAS teachers in the coming semester or year.
Organize BEAC member resource information for future use. The Community Resources Spreadsheet may be a useful tool.

Throughout the year

Conduct regularly scheduled BEAC meetings. For assistance in developing the Ford PAS program, refer to BEAC Activities and Program Components at Your School.
Periodically update Ford PAS teachers’ classroom schedules of CLEs using the Coordinated Learning Experiences (CLE) Chart. Encourage participation in these activities by BEAC members and their organizations.
Arrange a schedule for visits to colleges and universities to inform students about higher education opportunities.
Arrange job shadowing and/or mentoring experiences for Ford PAS students with local businesses or higher education institutions.
Provide training for businesses involved in Ford PAS mentoring activities.
Plan for coordinated learning experiences for the coming summer, such as internships and other learning, work, or community service opportunities for Ford PAS students with local businesses, colleges and universities, or community service organizations.
Participate in fundraising activities.

Closing out the year

Conduct a year-end BEAC meeting to recognize outstanding participation (possibly make certificates or name “Rookie of the Year,” “Most Valuable Player,” etc.). Be creative and have fun!
Have members complete the BEAC Program Feedback Form.
Acknowledge members who are leaving.
Recruit new members and officers for the following year as needed.

TOP

Sample Program Materials

Visit the Ford PAS Network section to see sample materials from current Ford PAS programs around the country.

BEAC Program Feedback Form

The BEAC Program Feedback Form helps inform the BEAC Chairperson and the Ford PAS site coordinator about BEAC members' experiences and possible ways to improve them.

Word document | PDF

TOP

< BACK NEXT >