Bread Loaf Writers' Participant Page

We’re glad you’re coming and look forward to working with you!

Bread Loaf fosters communities where open-mindedness, respect, and appreciation are truly valued and where each person can thrive and benefit from their time on the mountain.

Below you will find details about the information and materials needed in order to prepare for the session. In the months and weeks leading up to the conference, we’ll post information and updates to this web page. We’ll send an email to let you know when new information is available and to keep you informed of upcoming deadlines.

Thank you for taking a close look at the information noted here and submitting the materials requested. If you think of any questions, please let us know.

Noreen Cargill, Administrative Director
Jason Lamb, Coordinator

Acceptance Materials

Please use the following information and links to complete acceptance materials by the due dates noted below or by the dates noted in your acceptance letter:

• Workshop and Directory: The Workshop Leader and Directory Form acts as your confirmation to attend the conference and allows you to submit your top choices for workshop leader. Please submit this form by Monday, June 1 or the by the date noted in your notification letter. You’ll also be able to include any food allergies that need special attention and emergency contact information.
• Request for Workshop Manuscript: Please upload your manuscript for workshop critique by Monday, June 1 or by the date noted in your notification letter.
• Participant Photo and Bio Upload: Upload your photo and bio by Monday, June 1 or by the date noted in your notification letter.
• Payment Schedule: Please review the payment schedule and cancellation policy.
• Travel Information: Review our travel and logistics information, including driving directions, details on how to make shared taxi arrangements to travel from the Burlington airport or Middlebury train station to campus, and access to online carpooling for those who would like to share long distance travel with another Bread Loafer, among other details.

A Middlebury Email for Participants

Bread Loaf fellows, faculty, and participants are assigned a temporary Middlebury email for use during the conference. Bread Loaf staff will continue to use the personal emails on file for conference communications, but the Middlebury email will be necessary to: access the measles proof-of-immunity form; access Wi-Fi on the Bread Loaf campus; and use and print from the computers in the Library on the Bread Loaf campus.

The ITS “Middlebury Account Activation Instructions” note is sent to Bread Loafers’ personal emails in mid-July. Bread Loaf staff will send an email in advance to alert attendees of the forthcoming Activation note.

Health and Safety on Campus this Summer 

COVID-19 Protocols

See the conference Covid-19 page for 2026 information. Specific Covid-19 protocols will be shared via email in the time leading up to the conference.

Measles Vaccination Requirement

As we move into summer and welcome a whole new student population to the Middlebury College campuses, it is especially important to protect your health and that of the campus community. Measles cases have been recently documented in Vermont and are rising both domestically and internationally. For this reason, documented proof of measles immunity or an official vaccination exemption is required for all summer students. There are no exceptions to this requirement. More details will be shared soon, including the process for demonstrating immunity or submitting an exemption, frequently asked questions for summer programs, and access to a secure form for uploading your proof-of-immunity document.

In the meantime, we want to share the below to help attendees with planning. Valid proof of immunity means one of the following is true and you have provided the associated information to Middlebury via the forthcoming secure upload form (all documentation must be in English or accompanied by an English translation):

1. You have provided valid documentation of at least one dose of measles vaccine, ideally received at least two weeks before your program start date.*  
2. You have provided valid documentation of blood test results showing immunity against measles (Measles IgG test).* 
3. You have provided valid documentation of blood test results showing that you were previously diagnosed with measles.* 
4. Your date of birth is prior to January 1, 1957, you are assumed to be immune, and you have attested to this on the form and uploaded a document that includes your date of birth.   

Exemptions are for those who should not take the vaccine for medical reasons or who may not on religious grounds. Students seeking approved exemptions must complete a required exemption form that will be made available in advance of the conference.

Notes:

—Those who attended a Bread Loaf conference in 2024 or 2025 and already received official approval for a proof-of-immunity document have fulfilled the requirement for this summer.
—Current Middlebury College faculty and staff have already provided proof of immunity to Middlebury College and need not share it again via this process.

—Middlebury College undergraduates have already provided their immunization documents to the Center for Health and Wellness, and their compliance will be communicated internally to their summer program(s). 
—Individuals born prior to January 1, 1957 are assumed to be immune to Measles and do not have to provide proof of immunity; instead of uploading a proof of immunity document via the secure form, these individuals will provide a document showing their date of birth. 

Middlebury College Disability Resource Center

The Disability Resource Center provides confidential services and reasonable accommodations for students who have disabilities affecting any of the following: learning, vision, hearing, speech, mobility, physical health, and psychological health.

For more specific information, visit the DRC Request Accommodations webpage. To submit a request form for Bread Loaf, choose the Accommodation Request Form (ARF) for Summer Programs. Please note the following when completing the form:
Middlebury ID Number: “not yet available”
Summer Program: “Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference” 
Location: “Bread Loaf” 

Conference Staff

Jennifer Grotz, director, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences (jgrotz@middlebury.edu or 802-443-5286)

Lauren Francis-Sharma, assistant director, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference (lfrancissharma@middlebury.edu or 802-443-5286)

Noreen Cargill, administrative director, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences (ncargill@middlebury.edu or 802-443-5062)

Jason Lamb, coordinator, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences (jlamb@middlebury.edu or 802-443-5286)

Conference Materials

We will post the following information as it becomes available. We’ll send you an email to let you know when each of these may be accessed.

Dates subject to change.

Agent/Editor Meeting Sign-Up: Please sign up for an agent and/or editor meeting by Monday, May 15

Notification Regarding Workshop Leader: Via email on Wednesday, July 1.

Bread Loaf Handbook: Available Friday, July 10.

The Bread Loaf HandbookIncludes a packing list and information regarding workshops, readings, and Bread Loaf facilities, including housing, meals, Wi-Fi access, and cell phone service, among other details.

Attendees receive access to their temporary Middlebury email and activate their account: mid-July

Attendees use their temporary Middlebury email to access the secure measles proof-of-immunity form and upload their document: mid-July following Middlebury email access and activation

Newcomer’s Guide: Available July 15

Access to Student Manuscripts and Assignment for First Workshop: Available via Google Drive on Wednesday, July 15.

New England Review Special Offer for Bread Loafers