We’re excited to announce our program schedule for the Juniper Summer Writing Institute, June 15-21, 2025. All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time (EST). Precise locations will be provided to participants via email in late May. All events take place on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Days and times for specific Craft Sessions will be announced in spring 2025.
This general schedule is subject to change.
Sunday, June 15
3:00pm–4:00pm: Registration opens! Pick up your informational folder and name badge. Passes for the Campus Center Parking Garage will be available for purchase from Conference Services at this time for folks staying off-campus or those staying in the North Apartments who would like closer parking. For folks staying on campus at the North Apartments, please check in at North Apartments before arriving to registration. Check-in time for North Apartments will be announced soon. More info on the North Apartments here.
4:00pm–5:00pm: Orientation and welcome from Director Betsy Wheeler and the Juniper Staff
5:00pm–7:30pm: Dinner (dining commons or campus retail locations).
7:30pm–9:00pm: Reading and Q&A.
9:00pm–10:00pm: Reception.
Monday, June 16
7:00am–9:00am: Breakfast (dining commons or campus retail locations).**
9:00am–12:00pm: Workshops. One-on-one mentor meetings for independent writing residents.
12:00pm–1:30pm: Lunch (dining commons or campus retail locations).
1:30pm–3:00pm: Craft Sessions.
3:30pm–4:30pm: Choose one: Panel with Visiting Writers & Poets, or Write-in.
5:00pm–7:30pm: Dinner (dining commons or campus retail locations).
7:30pm–9:00pm: Reading and Q&A.
Tuesday, June 17
7:00am–9:00am: Breakfast (dining commons or campus retail locations).**
9:00am–12:00pm: Workshops. One-on-one mentor meetings for independent writing residents.
12:00pm–1:30pm: Lunch (dining commons or campus retail locations).
1:30pm–3:00pm: Craft Sessions.
3:30pm–4:30pm: Choose one: Participant reading, or Write-in.
5:00pm–7:30pm: Dinner (dining commons or campus retail locations).
7:30pm–9:00pm: Reading and Q&A.
Wednesday, June 18
7:00am–9:00am: Breakfast (dining commons or campus retail locations).**
9:00am–12:00pm: Workshops. (No one-on-one mentor meetings today for independent writing residents.)
12:00pm–1:30pm: Lunch (dining commons or campus retail locations).
1:30pm–3:00pm: Craft Sessions.
3:30pm–4:30pm: Choose one: Panel with Visiting Writers & Poets, or Write-in.
5:00pm–7:30pm: Dinner (dining commons or campus retail locations).
7:30pm–9:00pm: Reading and Q&A.
Thursday, June 19
7:00am–9:00am: Breakfast (dining commons or campus retail locations).**
9:00am–12:00pm: Workshops. One-on-one mentor meetings for independent writing residents.
Due to an unavoidable conflict in venue availability on UMass campus, Thursday of this summer’s program falls on Juneteenth. We’ve made schedule adjustments to accommodate space to allow for observation of the day, while still keeping the program offerings on schedule. On Thursday, workshops and one-on-one mentor meetings will occur as usual from 9am-12pm, but the remainder of the day will be unscheduled. Classrooms and meals will still be available, but campus will be “closed,” including campus support offices, recreation offices, etc.
Friday, June 20
7:00am–9:00am: Breakfast (dining commons or campus retail locations).**
9:00am–12:00pm: Workshops. One-on-one mentor meetings for independent writing residents.
12:00pm–1:30pm: Lunch (dining commons or campus retail locations).
1:30pm–3:00pm: Craft Sessions.
3:30pm–4:30pm: Choose one: Participant reading, or Write-in.
5:00pm–7:30pm: Dinner (dining commons or campus retail locations).
7:30pm–9:00pm: Reading and Q&A.
9:00pm–10:00pm: Reception.
Saturday, June 21
Our programming ends Friday evening with our final reading of the Juniper Summer Writing Institute. Checkout time for the North Apartments is to be announced.
** A note about breakfast
Please make sure to check your Dining Commons and Retail Dining sheet in your registration folder for the operating hours for campus retail dining locations. Procrastination Station and Whitmore Cafe may have less options available for a full breakfast compared to the dining commons, so if you’re not running late for workshop, we recommend you visit the dining commons for breakfast!