Expanding its campaign to promote a positive image of graphic communications and motivate students to choose careers in the industry, the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation has announced a program to reach out to college students. The Foundation’s board has approved expansion of the MAKE YOUR MARKSM in Graphic Communications campaign to high schools with a pilot program to inform college juniors and seniors majoring in physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering, accounting and business administration about professional opportunities in the graphic communications industry. Through the MAKE YOUR MARK program, GAERF has distributed informational kits to more than 65,000 high school teachers and guidance counselors, with the potential to reach more than 8 million students nationwide. "The response to MAKE YOUR MARK has been extremely positive, and we expect the campaign to generate substantial interest in the diverse careers our industry offers," said Foundation Chairman J. Kenneth Garner, President of United Litho in Ashburn, Virginia. "With this program well under way, the board believes it is an appropriate time to extend the effort with a project to make college students aware of the opportunities for professional and scientific careers." As the first step in the pilot project, GAERF will look at recruiting practices used by graphic communications companies and sponsor research at five to six public and private universities with strong programs in science, engineering and business administration to determine how their career services and recruiting programs work and what materials are appropriate. The second step will be the development of a prototype graphic communications program with materials and procedures to place industry information at the targeted universities and assist industry representatives in recruiting. Rollout of the project is planned for spring 2003. The project will be directed by an advisory committee of industry leaders in print production, publishing and graphic communications. GAERF was founded in 1983 by the National Association for Printing Leadership, NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies and Printing Industries of America to serve as a source of financial support for educational and research projects to promote a strong future for the industry. The Foundation is funded with income generated by the major national and international trade expositions managed by the Graphic Arts Show Company, which was also created by the three industry associations. In addition to the industry image and recruiting campaign, GAERF has provided more than $4 million in funding through its grant-making program and manages the PrintED national accreditation program for secondary and post-secondary schools.