A method for operating an access node includes receiving a first random access preamble in a first random access resource, wherein the first random access preamble and the first random access resource at least partially identifies a first beam selected by a user equipment (UE), and wherein the first random access resource is one of a plurality of random access resources assigned to the UE, and determining that first additional information associated with the first beam is needed, and based thereon, sending a first message responsive to the first random access preamble, the first message including a first information set to request the additional information associated with the first beam, and receiving a second message including the first additional information associated with the first beam.