Acclaimed “The Three Mothers” Author Anna Malaika Tubbs, Ph.D., will present the Thursday keynot e ad dress: "If We Don't Tell Our Story, Who Will?" Regina N. Bradley, Ph.D., Author of Chronicling Stankonia: the Rise of the Hip-Hop South and Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University will present the Friday keynote address: Still Standing: Student Voices, Curation, and HBCU Legacies New York, Sept. 17, 2021 --  The fourth Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Rhetoric & Composition Symposium, a national symposium focusing on excellence in English composition and rhetoric, will be held virtually from September 23-25, 2021. The symposium, established by Macmillan Learning in 2014, gathers English and Writing professors to historically Black colleges and universities bi-annually to discuss strategies that support student engagement and success. Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned education and publishing services company is hosting the 2021 event in partnership with Florida A&M University (FAMU).  The theme, “Transdisciplinarity @ HBCUs: Rewriting Black Futures beyond the Margin,” will offer a nuanced look at the intersections between “the meaning we can make with all of the languages and literacies we speak and understand.”  In addition to keynote presentations and panel discussions, there will also be workshops that provide opportunities for hands-on experience. The virtual symposium is open for all faculty, and is free to attend. “With COVID-19 continuing to exacerbate the social and racial inequities we see in the classroom, it's more important than ever we uphold this symposium’s tradition of gathering leading faculty from the Rhetoric and Composition Disciplines at HBCUs to discuss the state of education, celebrate our contributions to it, and strategize about what we can do to improve on it,” said Dr. Kendra L. Mitchell, Symposium Chair and Assistant Professor of English at FAMU. “For nearly 200 years, HBCUs have played an essential role in providing access and support for Black students and others who have been traditionally marginalized from the opportunities afforded by obtaining a higher education. Bedford/St. Martins, an imprint of Macmillan Learning, began this partnership in 2014 with our first writing symposium in order to facilitate collaboration among HBCU scholars, and we are proud to sponsor the fourth symposium in 2021 to ensure that this important work continues,” said Leasa Burton, Vice President of Humanities for Macmillan Learning.   This year’s symposium will feature two keynote speakers. On Thursday, Sept 23, The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation author Anna Malaika Tubbs, Ph.D., will present: "If We Don't Tell Our Story, Who Will?": A Fireside Chat. On Friday, Sept. 24, Regina N. Bradley, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English and African Diaspora Studies at Kennesaw State University, will present: "Still Standing: Student Voices, Curation, and HBCU Legacies."  Panels and workshops will be presented by instructors from Arizona State University, Bethune Cookman University, Bowie State University, Dallas College, Florida A&M University, Florida State University, Howard University, Kennesaw State University, Langston University, Morehouse College, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Oakland University, Stanford University, Texas Southern University, Tougaloo College, University of Maryland, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Tech. Sessions include: Kickoff and Welcome with Dr. Kendra Mitchell, Symposium Chair Through Voice and Pen: Transdisciplinary and Social Justice in HBCU Speech Education, A Workshop Developing Foundational Approaches to Teaching Writing Using Black Voice Writing Across the Curriculum at HBCUs Engaging Non-English Faculty in the Work of the Writing Center, A Workshop HBCU/PWI Partnerships to Increase African American Scholars(hip), A Roundtable Discussion Transdisciplinary Strategies for Promoting Cognitive Shifts in Student Writing Framing Writing Instruction through a Black Worldview in Writing Courses at HBCUs Using Multimodal Texts to Teach Rhetorical Analysis Rewriting the Learning Relationship in the Writing Classroom Black to the Future: An Analysis of Past and Future Black Voices Transdisciplinarity Beyond the Classroom Transdisciplinary Perspectives on Modern Black Writing Transdisciplinarity and Social Justice in the Writing Classroom Roundtable Discussion with Past Chairs of the HBCU Rhetoric & Composition Symposium, representing North Carolina A&T State University, Howard University, and Morehouse College Publication Roundtable with Editors from College Language Association Journal, Journal of Multimodal Rhetorics, and CaKe, FAMU’s Literary Journal Workshop: Getting Your Article Published To learn more about or register for the symposium, click here . Select sessions will be available on the Macmillan Community following the event. Media interested in attending should email marisa.bluestone@macmillan.com .  *Speakers and sessions are as of September 15, 2021, and are subject to change. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community .   About FAMU Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, founded on October 3, 1887, began classes with 15 students and two instructors. Today, FAMU is one of 12 institutions in Florida's State University System and has nearly 10,000 students.  FAMU offers 54 bachelor’s degrees, 29 master’s degrees, 12 doctoral degrees and three professional degrees.  The three professional degrees include the J.D., Pharm.D., and the Doctor of Physical Therapy. The 12 doctoral degree programs include 11 doctoral degrees and one Doctor of Public Health. The 11 doctoral programs are: biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, physics, educational leadership, environmental science and entomology. For more information, visit FAMU.edu .  ... View more

New York, Sept. 15 2021 -- The second annual “Black History, Black Stories” contest sponsored by Macmillan Learning launched today. Now in its second year, the contest is accepting entries for college students and faculty to share how they draw inspiration from Black historical figures or events by submitting a photo of themselves along with either a short essay or a brief video story. “Few things are as important as the stories we tell ourselves and the world around us, so we created this contest to elevate the ones that may have been overlooked or unrecognized. This is just one of the many initiatives that Macmillan Learning has been undertaking to ensure that diverse voices are represented in the classroom and in our course materials,” said Coltrane Stansbury, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Macmillan Learning.  Black History, Black Stories contest. Submissions from students and faculty can win up to $1,000. Entries are accepted through December 15, 2021, and prizes will be awarded during Black History Month, February 2022, to the top six winners. Prizes include $1,000 going to the top student and faculty winners, $500 to second place winners and $250 for third place. Winners will also be featured on the Macmillan Learning History Community Site . Submissions will be judged by a cross-section of at least ten Macmillan Learning employees that support the creation of course materials for college students, including the company’s vast portfolio of History titles . The “Black History, Black Stories” contest was created in 2020 by the company’s college History group to elevate Black voices in education and in recognition of the fight for social justice inspired by the #BlackLivesMatter movement.  Last year’s student winner, Charles Walker Jr., created a video about the symbolism and impact of Colin Kaepernick. Last year’s instructor winner, Bradley Borougerdi, spoke about how he was inspired to found the non-profit Tarrant County Coalition for Peace and Justice to teach about the history of racial terror and lynching. See the past winners and learn more about this year’s contest o n the "Black History, Black Stories" website. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. Our engaging content is developed in partnership with the world's best researchers, educators, administrators, and developers. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or see us on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn or join our Macmillan Community .  ### ... View more

Certification of completion offered for every session attended in this professional development series  New York, NY; Aug 16, 2021 -- Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned education publishing and services company launched a new professional development series for educators to help support student engagement and success in college. The virtual “ Engage Students to Achieve More ” series is free for college faculty and administrators and will explore the techniques and technologies used to support active learning and student engagement in and outside the classroom, as well as timely lessons about effective teaching pedagogies gleaned during the pandemic.  Student engagement continues to be an area of concern due to  educators’ diminished ability to work one-on-one with students and the decreasing levels of student motivation and morale versus pre-pandemic. It ranked as instructors greatest challenge in 2020, up from their third greatest challenge just two years ago, according to Digital Promise . “While student engagement plays an important role in helping students in their coursework, its impact reaches far beyond the classroom,” said Charles Linsmeier, General Manager of Macmillan Learning. “In order to close COVID-19-related learning gaps, educators and student advocates are seeking new ways to best reestablish meaningful connections and timely interventions for deeper learning and engagement with their students. This is even more important with the variability and blending of synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning environments, which is the norm for many institutions for the foreseeable future.” Throughout the complimentary virtual professional development series, which begins in August and continues throughout the fall, participants will hear about student engagement practices and solutions informed by the experiences of instructors, students, and administrators during the pandemic. The series explores various strategies, methods, and techniques that help increase students’ attention, interest, curiosity, and positive emotional connections to their learning and college communities.  Participants will receive certificates of completion for every session attended. The sessions include: Returning to Normal? What we should keep from pandemic teaching: Faculty Perspective: Aug. 19 at 1 p.m. ET. In the first of a two-part series, we examine what strategies, methods, and techniques we should keep going forward as well as relevant data points from the faculty perspective. Hear from University of Arkansas at Little Rock Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Writing Heidi Harris and Associate Professor of Political Science Rebecca Glazier. Encouraging Growth Mindsets with Active Learning: Sept 16 at 2 p.m. ET. A student’s mindset has a heavy impact on whether or not they can grow and learn in response to challenges. This session will provide practical tips for using active learning exercises to enhance students’ growth mindset and help foster resilience and flexibility alongside course content subject matter.  Insights and Lessons on College Students’ Sense of Belonging During Covid-19: Sept 21 at 2 p.m. ET. The pandemic created challenges for building connections and community with students both inside and outside the classroom. In this session, we explore a four-part framework as well as a national study on the impact of the pandemic to analyze the challenges and lessons learned related to building community and belonging during the pandemic.  Using Remote Response for Peer Learning: Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. ET. Research has shown that students often learn best from other students. In this webinar, Spelman College Senior Instructor in  Mathematics, Kiandra Johnson, will demonstrate how she uses remote response (in her case, iClicker) to facilitate just-in-time learning. This empowers students to be interactive, learn from one another, and get the benefit of students explaining concepts as a regular part of her class time. Engagement as a Matter of Equity: Fostering student engagement for improved equity and inclusion: Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. ET. Instructional technology can be used to support your institution’s equity and inclusion initiatives in meaningful ways. Hear from University of Louisville Psychology Professor Edna Ross and Instructional Technologist/ University of Michigan Instructor Emily Ravenwood as they explore pandemic-era lessons that can help you create and deliver more inclusive and equitable learning experiences for every student. Other webinars in the “ Engage Students to Achieve More ” professional development series include: Returning to Normal? What we should keep from pandemic teaching: Student Perspective; Active Learning in the Math/Stats Classroom; Insights and Lessons on College Students’ Sense of Belonging During Covid-19; Student Lifecycle Assessment Strategies: Early Alerts, Interventions, and Improving Student Outcomes; and Student Affairs Assessment Lessons from the Experiment We Didn’t Want. The series will provide information about Macmillan Learning’s educational technologies and assessment solutions including its new digital learning platform ( Achieve ), its classroom response system ( iClicker ), and its assessment and survey technology ( Benchworks ). Participants can sign up to participate live or to receive the recording afterwards. New webinars are being added regularly to the fall schedule. To learn more about the webinars or to sign up, click here. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community .   ... View more

New York, NY; Aug 11, 2021 -- Applications are now being considered for undergraduate students interested in Macmillan Learning’s new paid externship program. The privately-held, family-owned education publishing and services company announced today the launch of a three-week, project-based work experience program for college students from backgrounds that have traditionally been underrepresented in publishing.  The externship is sponsored by the company’s Employee Resource Group BLACC (Black Leaders Actively Changing the Culture), which is focused on Black employees, in partnership with Macmillan Learning’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Through the externship, the company will provide students with practical experience within various functions of the educational publishing and technology industry, including marketing, editorial, human resources, and engineering. Additionally, students will participate in professional development programming and mentorship, including interactive, virtual meet-ups with Macmillan Learning’s executive team members and department leads. “There are so many interesting and exciting roles within the ed tech and publishing industries, and so much talent from students belonging to underrepresented groups. We created this program to provide as many opportunities as possible for students to explore roles within the industry - and for leaders throughout our organization to build a healthy pipeline of diverse talent. Ultimately our goal is to provide students from underrepresented groups with substantive experiences so that they can begin to imagine this as a first-choice option for their careers,” said Phoenix Harvey, Co-Chair of BLACC. “We know that having a diverse workforce is critical to offering students the best learning materials, and to do that there needs to be a pipeline of talented candidates who are as excited about student success as we are,” said Kristin Peikert, SVP of Human Resources at Macmillan Learning. “We are proud to support an employee-created talent-pipeline program that aligns with Macmillan Learning’s mission to increase meaningful representation within the industry.” To qualify, students should be: From an underrepresented group in educational publishing and technology organizations, including, but not limited to, students of African American, Asian, Latino/Hispanic, Native American, or Pacific Islander descent;  Currently enrolled as an undergraduate and have completed at least 60 hours of college coursework by August 2021; and A United States citizen or permanent resident; students with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival) status valid through the internship period are also eligible. BLACC plans to offer the externship several times each year, with opportunities to work in and learn about various functions and departments. Students can visit the externship program information page for more details about the program and the specific projects available. Applications are due August 30, 2021. The externship will take place in October 2021. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community               ... View more

Company is one of only two education companies recognized as a best place to work New York, NY July 13 , 2021 -- Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned education publishing and services company announced today it earned a perfect score on the 2021 Disability Equality Index®, the leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide. The 100% score reflects Macmillan Learning’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for its employees and the students who rely on the company’s course materials and educational technology for their education.  The Disability Equality Index, a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN, is a benchmarking tool that allows companies to demonstrate their commitment to disability inclusion and equality. It is modeled off the Corporate Equality Index that highlights LGBTQ-inclusive workplace policies, an index that also listed Macmillan Learning as a “ Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality ” this January. Globally, there are more than one billion people with disabilities. “Supporting diversity, equity and inclusion means ensuring that students of all backgrounds and abilities have the same opportunities for an education. While we’re proud to be recognized as a best place to work, we recognize that accessibility is a journey and our work is not yet done. As the technology, standards, and platforms change, so will we,” said Susan Winslow, President, Macmillan Learning.  Macmillan Learning views accessibility for its educational technology and course materials through two different lenses. In the first, the company works towards creating equitable student learning experiences and in the next, it aims to meet or exceed industry-accepted standards. The company’s accessibility work has earned it “Gold Standard” recognition from ASPIRE and the Winner of Accessible Books Consortium’s International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing in 2020. The company’s ebooks for the third consecutive year were recognized as Global Certified Accessible by Benetech. This means that Macmillan Learning provides “born accessible” digital learning options that ensure that all students have the same access to information. In addition to ebooks, the company’s accessibility work extends to Lab Simulations and audio descriptions that explain to the visually impaired what is happening within videos. Similar to how closed captioning helps students to understand what’s happening on the audio in a video program, an audio description is essential to understanding visual information like charts, graphs, diagrams, facial expressions, and other non-verbal cues. “These are the kinds of advances we can make when we put our collective minds to approaching accessibility not just as a series of requirements to meet, but rather as important and interesting challenges to solve,” added Winslow.  The company continues to share best practices in accessibility for the education industry by offering an open source library of materials that were created in partnership with Tech For All. It supports accessibility within the company by focusing on recruiting and retaining employees with disabilities. To better support the hiring process, Macmillan Learning proactively includes the ability to request accommodations in emails to all candidates and has also placed the ability to request an accommodation atop its careers website. The company is also in the process of forming an employee resource group for employees with disabilities. . The company is also in the process of forming an employee resource group for employees with disabilities. “The Disability Equality Index shines a spotlight on companies that believe they have a stake in creating a more equitable society for people with disabilities. It is a conduit for our work championing disability rights for the 60 million Americans with disabilities and knocking down barriers to employment, technology and healthcare, and we're thrilled to see the progress being made today,” said Maria Town, President and CEO of AAPD. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community . About the Disability Equality Index® The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.” The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation’s largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. The organizations are complementary and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates. Learn more at: www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org . About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power for people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 50+ million Americans with disabilities. Learn more at: www.aapd.com.  About Disability:IN  Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. More than 270 corporations trust Disability:IN to activate and achieve disability inclusion across their enterprise and in the broader corporate mainstream. Through the world’s most comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking; best-in-class conferences and programs; and expert counsel and engagement, Disability:IN works with leading businesses to create long-term business and societal impact. Join us at disabilityin.org/AreYouIN #AreYouIN ... View more

New York, NY, June 29, 2021 -- While residence life looked different this past academic year, for many it maintained the important function of keeping students connected and engaged. Skyfactor Benchworks, a Macmillan Learning company, recognized a record number of colleges using data-driven programs to support on campus living with the Assessment and Impact Award for Housing and Residence Life.  The 2021 winners reflect diversity in institution type, size, location, and initiatives, including: Miles Community College, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Oxford College of Emory University, The University of Tampa, University of Alaska Southeast, University of Central Florida and University of Northern Colorado. “Residence life has never been both more challenging and more important than during the past year, as programs faced profound issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, housing programs carried on, made changes, adjusted, and continued their work to improve the student experience. The seven institutions recognized this year used data-driven insights to make meaningful improvements to the residential experience and we’re proud to recognize their work,” said Steven Ray, Vice President of Enterprise Solutions for Macmillan Learning.  Residence life has historically played an important role in building community, ensuring students' success in college and improving graduation rates. Several studies have documented the connection, including research from Skyfactor, which found that the students who reported that their housing experience helped them make connections with other students in their courses were more likely to report that their housing experience contributed to their overall learning. Additional research from the University of Maryland found that students who lived on campus for at least their freshman year were 22% more likely to graduate within four years than students who lived off campus and research from the University of Oregon found that full-time freshmen have higher GPAs, retention rates, and graduation rates when they spend their first academic year living in university housing. The Assessment and Impact Award for Residence Life was established in 2019 to recognize colleges that demonstrate intentionality in using insights from data to improve their residence life programs. Skyfactor Benchworks recognized four housing programs in 2019 and three programs in 2020 . The larger class of winners in 2021 reflects the breadth and enormity of the efforts from housing departments across the country to adapt and adjust to changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. While some assessments took place prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the insights and lessons are applicable to current transition to a post-pandemic college experience: Miles Community College in Montana was recognized for high performance on survey scores related to sustainability. Their housing department created intentional programming related to recycling and food equity and worked to adjust their food offerings to have more vegan and locally-sourced options. They were also involved in a campus service initiative that encouraged students to volunteer in the local community, and included opportunities to connect with sustainability and food-related efforts given the campus’ rural location. Millersville University of Pennsylvania was recognized for significant improvements to survey scores related to personal interactions, diverse interactions, and satisfaction with student staff. The increases followed the implementation of a new resident engagement model, modifications to student staff training, and a focus on living-learning communities to align with the University’s new strategic plan and EPPIIC Values . Oxford College of Emory University was recognized for high performance on survey scores related to diverse interactions and satisfaction with student staff. Their housing program worked to embed values of diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout their department, including residential education, student staff training, and community-building. University of Alaska Southeast was recognized for their significant improvement in survey scores related to residence hall environment satisfaction. Their housing department had recently adjusted staff training to better address conflict management, implemented roommate agreements, and found small ways to individually recognize and show appreciation for residents.  The University of Central Florida was recognized for significant improvement to survey scores related to sense of community. Their department made major changes as a result of COVID-19, including modifications to their residential curriculum, earlier connections with new students prior to the start of the year, and intentional efforts to connect students with programs and organizations. University of Northern Colorado was recognized for significant improvement to survey scores related to community environment satisfaction. Over the past three years, the program transitioned from a traditional programming model to one focused around one-on-one conversations between residents and student staff, in particular to help first-year residents in their transition to college. The University of Tampa was recognized for significant improvement in survey scores related to academic initiatives and personal interactions. Their increase followed the implementation of a new residential education model that feeds into campus-wide competency development and graduation-related initiatives. The winners were selected this spring through the company’s data-driven process. Macmillan Learning’s Analytics & Research Team analyzed multiple years of data from the ACUHO-I/Benchworks Resident Assessment to identify programs with both consistently high scores and significant improvements in survey scores. Institutions using the Resident Assessment were also allowed to self-nominate for the award. The team then interviewed staff from these campuses to learn about the efforts and initiatives in place at each program. An external review team of experts in the profession then blind reviewed and scored each finalist on a rubric. Skyfactor also has an Assessment and Impact Award for nursing education programs , with the call for these nominations launching early next month. The self-nominations for next year’s housing and residence life awards will launch in early 2022. About Skyfactor Benchworks Benchworks assessments have been available for two decades and are the most widely used assessments in higher education housing. The ACUHO-I/Benchworks Residents Assessment is used by nearly 300 institutions each year, and is one of more than 50 different assessments from Benchworks on topics important to college success, including housing, orientation, and student affairs and service. The survey includes questions about student satisfaction with facilities, programs, dining, safety, room assignment, and roommates, as well as learning related to personal interactions, diversity, sense of community, academic success, transferable skills, sustainability, and healthy habits. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community . ... View more

New York, May 27, 2021 --  Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned education and publishing services company, in partnership with Florida A&M University (FAMU) today announced a call for proposals for the Fourth HBCU Symposium on Rhetoric and Composition. The bi-annual, national summit focuses on excellence in English composition and rhetoric, gathering English and Writing professors to historically Black campuses to discuss strategies that support student engagement and success. The event will be held virtually from September 23-25, 2021, and is free to attend. FAMU logo This year’s symposium, “Transdisciplinarity @ HBCUs: Rewriting Black Futures beyond the Margin,” was created to open the pathway for conversations offering a nuanced look at the intersections between “the meaning we can make with all of the languages and literacies we speak and understand.”  “While teaching through COVID-19 has exacerbated other social and racial inequities, we see this moment as an opportunity to move beyond reactionary responses towards proactively determining our contributions to the field and broader communities,” said said Kendra L. Mitchell, Ph.D., symposium chair and assistant professor of English at FAMU. “The Bedford/St. Martin’s team is confident that this year’s HBCU Symposium on Rhetoric and Composition will continue to advance the teaching and learning experiences within HBCUs, and are proud to again support this important meeting,” said Leasa Burton, vice president of humanities for Macmillan Learning.  Instructors who teach writing and writing courses across curricula at HBCUs are invited to join the conversation by presenting. To apply to speak, educators need to submit an abstract of 250-350 words on a topic including, but not limited to: How can other disciplinary knowledge be used to teach English/Writing? What should/could social justice look like in classrooms?  What new relationships/partnerships should HBCUs consider?  What HBCU-centered curriculum/approaches should be amplified or discontinued? What role does/should technology play in the teaching of English/Writing? What shape should the student-instructor relationship take in classrooms (virtual, face-to-face, and/or hybrid)? What should the role of the first-year writing classes be to non-writing departments? What role should writing centers take in classrooms, universities, or broader communities? How should/could epistemologies be circulated to wider audiences? To learn more about the Fourth HBCU Symposium on Rhetoric and Composition, click here . The Proposals should be submitted before June 11, 2021. Please indicate in the proposal if the presentation will be an individual, a group, or a workshop submission. Official invitations will be emailed by July 2, 2021 for accepted presentations.  About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community . About FAMU Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, founded on October 3, 1887, began classes with 15 students and two instructors. Today, FAMU is one of 12 institutions in Florida's State University System and has nearly 10,000 students.  FAMU offers 54 bachelor’s degrees, 29 master’s degrees, 12 doctoral degrees and three professional degrees.  The three professional degrees include the J.D., Pharm.D., and the Doctor of Physical Therapy. The 12 doctoral degree programs include 11 doctoral degrees and one Doctor of Public Health. The 11 doctoral programs are: biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, physics, educational leadership, environmental science and entomology. For more information, visit FAMU.edu.  ... View more

New York, April 28, 2021 --  Bedford/St. Martin’s, a Macmillan Learning imprint, announced the members of its 2021 Bedford New Scholars Advisory Board today. The Advisory Board was established in 2008 as a way for Bedford/St. Martin’s to hear from promising graduate students about the teaching challenges they face and the research that excites them. This year, the scholars will focus primarily on three critical topics: student engagement, online learning, and creating more inclusive classrooms. Bedford New Scholars Class of 2021 The board of 10 graduate students will meet with the company’s editorial team to network, share ideas, and provide feedback on Bedford/St. Martin’s course materials. In previous years, Scholars would meet in-person at the company’s offices, at conferences and in focus groups. This year, a fully virtual conference was planned. The Scholars offer insights into how course materials are being used and the trends that will influence how composition courses are taught.  “Each year the scholars provide invaluable feedback to us about what’s going on in college campuses and gain insight into the future of composition course materials and how we can best support our students. From remote learning to protests for racial justice, this was a year unlike any other, so we’re intentionally focusing on topics that are critical to success for students, including how to get students more engaged in their learning, how to best support their online learning, and how to better embed DEI in the classroom. We can’t wait to hear the insightful feedback our Scholars have for us,” said Leasa Burton, Vice President of Humanities, Macmillan Learning. Throughout the duration of the program, the Scholars gain insight into the publishing process and are granted the opportunity to review the first editions of new learning materials and projects (both in print and in Macmillan Learning’s new learning platform, Achieve ). In the process, they also foster lasting professional connections with other graduate students and teachers who share the same passion for writing studies. Many past scholars have gone on to take leadership roles in writing programs in colleges and universities across the country. Bedford/St. Martin’s has long been connected to the Composition community with its widely used A Writer's Reference , The Bedford Reader , The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing , and Everything’s an Argument , as well as with its newest digital learning platform, Achieve , which was released last fall . This year’s Bedford New Scholars: Gina Atkins is pursuing her M.A. in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition at North Carolina State University. She teaches English 101: Academic Writing and Research and serves on the First-Year Writing Program Council as the MA Representative. Gina’s research interests relate to developing antiracist pedagogy, antiracist praxis, accessibility in the writing classroom, and linguistic justice. Eric D. Brown is pursuing his Ph.D. in Arizona State University’s Writing, Rhetorics and Literacies Ph.D. program. He has taught First-Year Composition, Persuasive Writing and Public Issues, Writing for the Professions, and Business Writing. Eric currently serves as the Assistant Director of Writing Programs, where he aids the director in growing the scope of Writing Programs and creating professional development for faculty. Emily Gresbrink is pursuing her Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Scientific and Technical Communication at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. She teaches University Writing, which is housed in the First-Year Writing program. Emily’s research interests include technical communication, the rhetoric of health and medicine, pandemics, rhetorical analysis, archives, bioethics, and mentoring. Brendan Hawkins is pursuing his Ph.D. in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition. His research, teaching, and faculty development interests and experiences span rhetorical genre studies, histories of rhetoric, online writing instruction and general education composition classes. Hyoung Min Lee is pursuing her Ph.D. in English at Texas A&M University, where she teaches Writing About Literature as a graduate teaching assistant. She has also taught Rhetoric and Composition and worked as a grader for Technical and Business Writing. Hyoung’s research interests include theories of race and biopolitics and 20th-and 21st-century American literature, especially African American literature. Courtney A. Mauck is a Ph.D. candidate in Rhetoric and Composition at Ohio University, where she serves as Assistant Director of Composition and primarily teaches first-year writing courses. She also teaches junior composition courses themed around feminist game studies and has co-taught two graduate courses, “Teaching College English” and “Learning Transfer.” Courtney’s research interests include digital rhetorics, multimodal composition, social media, game studies, learning transfer and first-year writing pedagogy. Michael A. Reyes is pursuing his MA in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition at Cal State LA. He teaches in the First-Year Writing Program and leads creative writing workshops in LA public schools and organizations. Michael’s research interests are critical affect theory, decolonial rhetorics and pedagogy, contemporary poetry and poetics, creative writing pedagogy, and antiracist and formative assessments. Jacob Richter is the Assistant Director of First-Year Composition and a Ph.D. candidate in the Rhetorics, Communication and Information Design program at Clemson University. He teaches First-Year Composition, technical communication and business communication courses, and is the Assistant Communications Editor for Xchanges. Jacob’s research examines rhetorical theory, composition pedagogy and writing in digitally networked environments. Rhiannon Scharnhorst is pursuing her hybrid Ph.D. in Writing Studies and Victorian Literature at the University of Cincinnati. She teaches a variety of courses in writing, from first-year composition to advanced topics classes, including Writing with Style and Food in Literature. Rhiannon’s research draws on feminist rhetorics to make sense of objects in writing studies, including typewriters, cookbooks and other tools. Leah Washburn is pursuing her Ph.D. in English Literature at The University of California, Riverside. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2018 with an MFA in Creative Writing, where she taught Intro to Creative Writing. Leah’s research interests include digital media, ludology, narratology, contemporary speculative fiction, and postmodern fiction.  About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community . ... View more

New York, April 23 2021 --  Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned education publishing and services company, today announced that the Macmillan International Higher Education team that supported global sales of Macmillan Learning products is now a part of the company. The move provides even more students and instructors around the world with access to the company’s learning materials and educational technology, including Achieve , the company’s new digital learning platform. The team is being transferred from Springer Nature. Macmillan Learning is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group (HPG), which holds a majority share of Springer Nature. Macmillan Learning has been selling to international markets for more than 25 years, with a dedicated North American sales team and also via the Macmillan International Higher Education   team. The team will sell the company’s full portfolio of course materials for the higher education market and educational technologies outside of North America. “We are delighted to welcome our colleagues from Macmillan International Higher Education into an even more united partnership, and to strengthen our ability to serve and support our global customers. This move supports our long-term global strategy and creates new opportunities for Macmillan Learning,” said Susan Winslow, President of Macmillan Learning.  The move brings 17 sales and marketing employees to the company. The team had previously sold Macmillan Learning and other course materials throughout Europe and Australia but will now focus specifically on Macmillan Learning products and technologies.  “Macmillan Learning has a stellar reputation in Europe and is known to partner with some of the best minds in their fields and academia to develop course materials and technologies. I’m excited to join this team and support their mission to inspire learning and see all students succeed,” said Katie Thorn, Sales and Marketing Director, Macmillan International Higher Education.  About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community . ... View more

New York, April 15, 2021 -- Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned educational publishing and solutions company, will be hosting “From Our Perspective: Black Professionals in Publishing” panel discussion in collaboration with Macmillan Publishers. Sponsored by the company's employee resource groups, Black Leaders Actively Changing Culture (BLACC) through Macmillan Learning and Black and African American Group (BAAG) through Macmillan Publishers, the event is meant to encourage BIPOC students to consider a career in publishing. This virtual event is free for all college students and instructors and will be held on Thursday, April 29, from 4-5:15 p.m. ET. The event will feature six panelists from different areas of the company to discuss their professional journey and share their experiences working in the publishing industry. The group will also offer recommendations and tips for students who are interested in a career in publishing, but aren't sure how to get started. There will be time at the end of the panel for questions from the audience. Featured panelists: Keith Barksdale, Jr., Publisher’s Representative, Macmillan Learning Natalie Gordon, Benefits Manager, Macmillan Publishers Phoenix Harvey, Director of Marketing, Enterprise & High School Solutions, Macmillan Learning Dominique R. Jenkins, Senior Manager, Author Events, Macmillan Publishers Jason Walker, Director of Product, eCommerce & Integrations, Macmillan Learning Natasha Wolfe, Senior Design Services Manager, Macmillan Learning “A career in publishing is more than writing and editing books, we also need engineers and technologists to create the edtech, marketers and sales teams to sell them, and so much more. Through our panelists' stories and experiences, we hope that more diverse students from all backgrounds can imagine themselves as professionals in the publishing industry. We are committed to creating more awareness and opportunities for them at Macmillan,” said Phoenix Harvey, BLACC Co-Chair and Director of Marketing, Enterprise & High School Solutions, Macmillan Learning. “At Macmillan Learning we believe that students should be able to see themselves in their learning materials, which happens far better when there’s a diverse and representative team working on them. We want to create intentional connections with the next generation of BIPOC students to encourage the many talented candidates to see themselves achieving a successful career in educational publishing,” said Coltrane Stansbury, Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Macmillan Learning.  Learn more about the event and speakers here . Students and instructors can register for the free webinar here .  About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned educational publisher that improves lives through learning. Our engaging content is developed in partnership with the world's  best researchers, educators, administrators, and developers. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com , find us on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn or join our Macmillan Community .     ... View more

New York, February 16, 2021 --  Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned education publishing and services company, today announced the promotion of Charles Linsmeier to Executive Vice President, General Manager of Macmillan Learning, effective immediately. As General Manager, Lin smeier will drive strategy for the company’s higher education, high school, and enterprise solutions.  Linsmeier, a graduate of the University of New Mexico and City University of New  York, was most recent ly Senior Vice President of Macmillan Learning’s Humanities & Social Sciences Editorial Division and BFW Hig h School Publishers. He has worked at Macmillan Learning for more than twenty years, beginning as a sales representative and working in roles with increasing responsibility, including editor and publisher for the company’s market-leading psychology and economics lists, before joining the company’s senior leadership team in 2013.  “Chuck is astutely aware of the role we play in students' lives, and is passionate about the issues that impact learning from understanding learning environments that foster student engagement and motivation to advancing scientific teaching principles. There’s no one better equipped to help me lead Macmillan Learning as we continue to discover better ways to support teaching and learning in classrooms across the world,” said Susan Winslow, President of Macmillan Learning. “We understand how much good pedagogy matters under normal circumstances and have seen that intensify as much of a student’s educational experience moved online. To support digital pedagogies - whether the class is online, in person, or hybrid - our learning platforms are designed to be more than a repository of learning assets; they are environments designed to promote learning and engagement that reflect the needs of the individual students, disciplines, and institutions that we support,” Linsmeier said.  Linsmeier’s keen editorial eye and understanding of the education market contributed to the future direction of Macmillan Learning, including signings and publications that diversified authorship and accelerated positive change from digital pedagogy to improved coverage of underrepresented groups in Macmillan Learning’s publications. Additionally, over the last five years, he fostered the expansive growth in the company’s market-leading AP High School business and was instrumental in the recent successful launch of the company’s learning platform, Achieve. Linsmeier has long been an outspoken advocate of affordable course materials and equity in education.  About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or join our Macmillan Community .   ... View more

Top publisher for learning materials for Advanced Placement courses offers titles for 15 subjects to support student learning New York, February 9, 2021 -- Bedford, Freeman & Worth High School Publishers announced the publication of two new Advanced Placement (AP) textbooks: American Literature and Rhetoric and Human Geography for the AP® Course. The two new titles reflect the company’s commitment to continually invest in new and compelling learning materials to help foster high school students’ college readiness. They are available in both digital and print versions. Through the College Board’s AP program, students take college-level courses in high school and, depending on their AP exam scores and the college they attend, may receive college credit. According to the College Board, more than 535k students took AP courses for English Language and Composition, nearly 350k took Literature, and more than 218k took Human Geography. "While classes may look different because of COVID, the need for learning materials has not changed,” said Charles Linsmeier, Senior Vice President, BFW Publishers. “We will continue investing in the creation of compelling learning materials that meet the needs of diverse populations of students taking AP courses. And that begins by partnering with teachers in the AP community to ensure that our teaching materials support the newest and the most experienced AP teachers alike.” The first edition of American Literature and Rhetoric (ALR) can be used in high school American literature and language courses for AP or College Board’s College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). The title combines reading and writing  instruction to build essential skills and help students develop an appreciation and understanding of American literature. The text can be taught chronologically, thematically, or by genre and was written by AP experts Robin Aufses; Renee Shea; Katherine E. Cordes; and Lawrence Scanlon.  The first edition of Human Geography for the AP® Course is aligned with the 2019 AP curriculum framework and includes exam practice questions at the end of every module and unit and a complete practice exam at the end of the book. More than just aligning to the test, it also helps students sharpen their critical thinking and study skills and broaden their global perspective. The book offers numerous opportunities to examine current controversies in human geography, discussion-based explorations of geographical patterns and trends, and new ways for students to practice newly developed skills.  It was written by AP experts Barbara Hildebrant; Max Lu; Kenneth Keller; and Roderick P. Neumann. “Diversity and inclusion are intentionally and thoughtfully woven in the materials as they are being created, ensuring students of various backgrounds and levels of preparation can see themselves in their course materials, while at the same time learn about other cultures and perspectives,” added Linsmeier. For example, about half of the readings in ALR are written by women; the featured writers are also racially diverse, almost half are from underrepresented groups in literature. The new AP Human Geography title prominently highlights women’s accomplishments, contributions and perspectives; recurring features like Seeing Geography and Subject to Debate take a global approach beyond Western thinking; and a Diversity Connection feature in the Teachers Edition connects content with cultures around the world to expose students to the different ways human geography is experienced, and more. BFW currently offers books that support AP learning for more than 15 AP courses, including Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies. The titles are currently available on the BFW High School Publishers catalog from Macmillan Learning. About BFW High School Publishers  BFW Publishing Group is a part of Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned company that improves lives through learning. BFW is the leading publisher of AP® and Pre-AP® resources, whose authors are recognized leaders in the AP® communities, and leading authorities on AP® courses.   ... View more

Charles Walker, Jr. and Bradley Borougerdi each win a $1,000 prize for their video submission by exploring their passion for Black leaders and events that inspired their own stories New York, Feb 5, 2021 -- Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned education publishing and services company, announced the winners for the company’s first “Black History, Black Stories” contest. The contest was created by the company’s college History group to elevate Black voices in education and in recognition of the fight for social justice inspired by the #BlackLivesMatter movement.    This fall, students and instructors submitted either a short essay and a picture or a brief video that answered how they were drawing inspiration from Black history, events, movements, or leaders. The submissions were judged by a cross-section of ten Macmillan Learning employees that support the creation of course materials for college students, including the company’s vast portfolio of History titles . “The videos and essays were very competitive and inspiring. From trailblazing family histories to the stories of slave descendants to modern-day activists that inspire and far beyond, many of these stories profoundly moved the judging panel. It was very difficult to choose only three winners in each category from all these talented voices,” said Macmillan Learning Panelist Melissa Rodriguez. This year’s student winner was Charles Walker Jr., from Marymount University. Walker created a video about how he has been inspired by American activist Colin Kaepernick, and the symbolism and impact of his actions. He noted in his video “It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what your background is, how much money you have in your pocket, you have a platform and you must use it in order to make change in this world.” Said one judge of Walker’s video: “I was moved by the way he told the story through video and the impact on his life … by wearing the jersey and having video in the field, the student brought Kaepernick’s words, movements, and personal connection to life.”  This year’s instructor winner was Bradley Borougerdi, from Tarrant County College spoke about how he was inspired to found the non-profit Tarrant County Coalition for Peace and Justice to teach about the history of racial terror and lynching noting that, “We allow the wounds of history to fester when we neglect them.” Said one judge of Borougerdi’s video: “His submission spoke directly to how our study of history can motivate the actions we take towards influencing change in our present and future. He demonstrated the understanding that we cannot study history as outsiders who are removed from its truths, but instead must allow it to teach us about who we were, who we are, and who we want to be.”  All winners will be featured on the Macmillan Learning History Community Site and win prize money, with $1,000 going to the top student and instructor winners, $500 to second place winners and $250 for third place. The full list of winners includes: Students 1st Place: Charles Walker, Marymount University 2nd Place: Maddison Hill, University of Mobile 3rd Place:  Riell Swann, Marymount University Honorable Mentions: Cyara Cooper, Kourtney Black and Anaya Arnold        Instructors 1st Place: Dr. Bradley J. Borougerd i, Tarrant County College 2nd Place: Dr. Headley White, Bethune-Cookman University 3rd Place: Dr. Shiarnice Burns,  Houston Community College Honorable Mentions: Peter Boykin, Wayne County Community College and Robert Davis of Wallace State College       About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. Our engaging content is developed in partnership with the world's best researchers, educators, administrators, and developers. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or see us on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn or join our Macmillan Community .  ... View more

Company designated as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality New York, January 28, 2021 -- Macmillan Learning, a privately-held, family-owned education publishing and services company, announced today that for the second consecutive year it earned 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI ). The recognition reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in its products, people and culture. The Human Rights Campaign is the nation's largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBTQ equality. The Index is part of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and is the nation’s premier benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality.  “Despite the many challenges in 2020, we continue to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality and are proud to again be listed as a top employer. Having a diverse and inclusive workforce is central to who we are, and our work towards diversity, equity and inclusivity is one we will continue to invest in for years to come,” said Kristin Peikert, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Macmillan Learning. Macmillan Learning’s approach remains focused on their people, products and culture to continuously nurture a diverse workforce.  The company’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals are centered around three pillars -- products, people and culture. Products: Macmillan Learning strives to ensure students of all backgrounds and experiences can see themselves in the company’s products. People: Macmillan Learning will continually assess and evolve our People processes to attract and retain top, diverse talent and provide training to ensure continuous program implementation. Culture : Macmillan Learning is committed to teaching, discovery, and social responsibility. The company’s employee-focused teams and initiatives support community and belonging. Further, the company aims to have a wide representation of backgrounds, genders, races, sexual orientations, physical abilities, and cultures in the content they produce, the authors they work with, and the employees they hire and develop.  Employees from across the company have opportunities to actively seek out new ways to cultivate a culture that welcomes differences through the company’s D&I Councils, employee resources groups, educational opportunities, diversity-related slack channels, among others.  The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: Non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families; supporting an inclusive culture; and corporate social responsibility. Macmillan Learning successfully satisfied all of CEI’s criteria, and in turn earned the designation as one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality.” The results of this year’s CEI showcase how 767 U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ-friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and advancing the cause of LGBTQ inclusion in workplaces abroad. The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei. To learn more about diversity, belonging and inclusion at Macmillan Learning, click here . For more information about working at Macmillan Learning, visit the careers page on our website. About Macmillan Learning Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. Our engaging content is developed in partnership with the world's best researchers, educators, administrators, and developers. To learn more, please visit macmillanlearning.com or see us on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn or join our Macmillan Community .  ... View more