Bread Loaf Writers' Conference Fellow Page

Welcome to the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. 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. We’re glad you’re coming and look forward to working with you! 

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

Fellow Forms

1. Please submit the Fellow Information Form online so we receive it by Monday, June 1.

Fellow information Form

In order to complete the form, you should have the following on hand:.

• Photo and short bio for us to use in the conference registration packet
• List of titles and publication dates of your book(s) you would like us to sell at the Bread Loaf Bookstore as well as contact information for your publisher so that we obtain a copy of your latest book for the Bread Loaf Library.
• Emergency contact information
• License plate number (if driving to Bread Loaf)
• Craft Class Proposal
  • We ask for your interest in offering a craft class (either a 50-minute or a 1 hour and 15 minute class). If we are able to add the class to our roster, we pay a $500 stipend. If you would like to submit a class proposal, we ask that you upload a document with the information (the title and description with your name and email noted at the bottom) via the online form.  First click here to read important details regarding submitting the class proposal.
• Books for the Library Reserve Shelf
  • We will have copies of your own title(s) available in the library on the Bread Loaf campus. If there are other books that you would like the library to have on hand—perhaps you anticipate recommending some during a class you might teach, etc.—please submit the title and author for each book via the online form.

A Middlebury Email for Fellows

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 Policies

In support of our community effort to promote a campus and workplace environment that is safe and welcoming for all Middlebury students, faculty, and staff, we ask all faculty to review the Middlebury College Policies. Please plan to review this important information before your arrival on campus this summer.

Should you have any comments, questions, or concerns in the time leading up to or during the conference, please let us know by contacting one of the Bread Loaf staff members below:

Jennifer Grotz, Director, jgrotz@middlebury.edu
Lauren Francis-Sharma, Assistant Director, lfrancissharma@middlebury.edu
Noreen Cargill, Administrative Director, ncargill@middlebury.edu
Jason Lamb, Coordinator, jlamb@middlebury.edu

Arrival

Fellows arrive on Tuesday, August 11 by 5 p.m. When you arrive, please go to the Front Desk in the Bread Loaf Inn to get your room assignment.

Please join us for a cocktail hour in Treman Cottage at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner in the Bread Loaf Inn at 6:30 p.m.

There will be an important orientation meeting in the Barn at 8 p.m. During the orientation, you will have a chance to meet your faculty workshop leader, and we will have a registration packet for you with the daily schedule and the list of classes with days and locations, among other materials.

Departure

Saturday, August 22 is the last day of the session. Saturday is a travel day—breakfast is available in the morning and then all participants head out by noon.

Please note that it’s important for fellows to stay through the entire session.  Saturday, August 22 is the departure day, and, as mentioned above, all leave campus by noon that day.

Travel Information

Please see the Travel Pagefor driving directions, details on how to make taxi arrangements, travel from the Burlington Airport and local (Middlebury, VT) train stations to the Bread Loaf campus, and other information.

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 Materials

Dates subject to change.

• Agent/Editor Meeting Sign-Up (if you wish to have a meeting): Available Monday, June 8. 

  Please note that meeting with an agent or editor is not required, so please only complete the form if you wish to have a meeting.  
   

• Notification Regarding Faculty/Fellow Pairs for Workshop: Sent via email on July 1.
   
• Access to Student Manuscripts: Available via Google Drive on July 15.
   
• Newcomer’s Guide: Available July 15.
   
• Access to Assignment for First Workshop: Available July 15.
   
• 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
   

• Bread Loaf Fellow Handbook: Available July 21.

  The Bread Loaf Handbook includes 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. 

• For Fellows Offering a Craft Class: Copy & Tech Form available July 21 and due by July 27.
   
• Participant Photo and Bios:  Available July 29
  Below we’ll share the link to the photos and bios of this year’s Bread Loaf participants.  We hope that you find these helpful as a way to get to know the participants during this year’s session. (A list of fellow bios and photos will be included in the materials that you receive during orientation on the mountain.) 

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