Always ask who is affected by a story. Always ask what the results of a story will be and pursue those issues. Many people affected by the story won't be at the meetings where these are discussed. It may be science or technology or sports or education or a campus department.
Beats start with cultivating human sources from secretaries to administrators.
This is the most important part of a beat. Sometimes you call and chew the fat. Other times, you call for information. You attend the meetings of the organization. You learn all organizations in the beat.