BLACC Externship Sponsor Information
BLACC Externship Program
The Externship Program is a three-week, project-based program designed to create opportunities within Macmillan Learning for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who are currently enrolled in accredited U.S. colleges and universities to gain practical experience in various roles within Macmillan Learning. By introducing our company and industry to college students from backgrounds that have traditionally been underrepresented in publishing, the externship program seeks to help diversify Macmillan Learning’s talent pipeline and develop students’ professional skills through mentorship and a guided, short-term work experience.
Externship Program Goals
Create opportunities.
Create opportunities that build professional skills in educational publishing and technology through mentorship and guided experience.
Improve visibility.
Expose educational publishing and technology as potential career paths for college graduates.
Diversify talent pool.
Introduce BIPOC students to Macmillan Learning hiring managers and leadership team to help diversfy the talent pool.
So you wanna sponsor an extern?
To sponsor an extern you must be a Macmillan Learning manager with (or capable of having) direct reports. Assistants and associates may help in managing the externship participants, but the Sponsor must have the ability to manage to direct reports. Additionally, Sponsors must:
Attend an information session and/or review appropriate materials regarding the externship program and sponsor expectations. Register for one the Informational Sessions here: Thursday, April 15 or Friday, April 16.
Finalize the details of the externship projects by Friday, May 21. Members of BLACC’s Externship Committee will work with Sponsors to flesh out project ideas.
Meet with your assigned Extern for a minimum of two hours/week during the externship window. This meeting time can be broken out as deemed fit for the project.
Provide introduction, instruction, guidance and feedback to the externship participant throughout the externship.
Provide feedback on the sponsorship experience at the conclusion of the externship.
Still have questions?
How do I apply to become a Sponsor?
First, attend one of the informational sessions (Thursday, April 15 or Friday, April 16). Next, complete the Sponsor Interest Form no later than end of day on Friday, April 30.
How will the Externship Program be publicized?
We will be promoting the Externship Program through emails to Career Planning Centers staff at colleges and universities in our database. We will also be promoting via both paid social media ads, as well as organic (unpaid) posts on the BFW and Macmillan Learning social media properties. Additionally, we will provide copy that all ML employees can use to promote the program to their own college alumni associations.
What kind of projects should I consider?
Extern projects should provide opportunities for engagement and reflection, and capable of being completed in 20-24 working hours. Additional guidelines and project ideas can be found here.
How will Sponsors be selected? How will Externs be selected?
Members of BLACC’s Externship Committee will select sponsors based on the details provided in the Sponsor Interest Form. Project ideas need not be fully fleshed out in the Interest Form, but some idea for the type of work is requested as the Externship Committee will use that detail to select the projects offered in each Externship cycle (a cycle is the three-week period for the externship).
Will the informational session be recorded?
Yes, the sessions will be recorded and shared out at the conclusion of the second session. We recommend that you sign up for a session as the recording will be sent to any session registrant or attendee.
How many Externs will be selected?
We will be selecting 5-7 projects for which Externs will be recruited to complete. While we cannot guarantee that every selected project will receive an Extern, we will try to find qualified candidates for every selected project. Extern applicants’ interest in the selected projects will ultimately determine if a Sponsor will have an externship participant to work on their project.
Key Sponsor Dates
April 15-16: Sponsor Information Sessions
April 30: Sponsor Applications Due
May 7: Sponsor Selection Announcement
May 21: Externship project details finalized
June 1: Externship Participant Application Published
July 30: Externship Participant Applications Due
August 13: Externship Participant Selection Announcement
September 27 - October 15: Externship Program Option 1
October 4 - October 22: Externship Program Option 2