Beyond Academic Careers Advisory Committee (BACAC)

History: The Beyond Academic Careers Advisory Committee (BACAC) is hereby chartered by the Board of Trustees. With all terminal academic degrees, astronomers find many career paths and only a small fraction work in academia. The AAS has relatively tight connections with that small fraction. The BACAC will enhance interactions between the AAS and all astronomers, identify ways for the AAS to engage more closely with all astronomers, will promote a diversity of career options for all astronomers, and will enhance connections between the AAS and industry, government, and other organizations.

Term: Three years

Charge: The BACAC will

• advise the AAS Board on establishing programs and activities that enable the transition for students at all degree levels into a broad range of career paths;
• advise the AAS Board on issues and policies that affect the community of astronomers working in a range of careers and especially in non-academic areas;
• engage a broad range of entities including in industry, government, non-profit, and other sectors to understand the skills they need from new astronomy graduates;
• provide a strong voice within the AAS for astronomers with diverse career paths;
• facilitate partnerships between AAS and non-academic employers on programs and activities of common interest, such as:
  • Increasing AAS membership
  • Career education and development
  • Awards
  • Policies of common interest, and
  • Financial development