The Center for Teaching & Faculty Development (CTFD) offers the following resources to support faculty members' scholarly writing:

The Faculty Writing Place

The CTFD and the UMass Amherst Libraries co-sponsor the Faculty Writing Place (“FWP”) – a quiet, comfortable, fully wired common space reserved solely for UMass Amherst faculty. Use the space to review your research materials, sort through notes, start a new manuscript, or revise an existing one.

Conveniently located in Room 1602 of the Du Bois Library, the FWP is equipped with comfortable tables and chairs, live internet jacks with cables, a computer, a printer, a dry erase board, reference books, and writing supplies. You can use the space on your own or with fellow faculty pursuing the same goals. Feel free to pick up a cup of coffee at the Procrastination Station on the Entrance Level and bring it upstairs to enjoy while you write.

For access to the FWP, simply check out the room key with your UCard at Circulation Services on the Lower Level of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library.

For more information about the purpose and founding of the Faculty Writing Place, please see the Change magazine article below.

The Faculty Writing Place: A Room of Our Own

Mini Writing Retreats

The CTFD offers six Mini Writing Retreats per academic year – three per semester – to help faculty establish a regular writing schedule and work in proximity with other faculty. Mini Retreats are held in the University of Massachusetts Teaching Commons, located on the 26th floor of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library. The Teaching Commons features individual workstations, two collaborative workrooms, numerous PCs and Macs, wireless Internet access, a scanner and copier/printer, student workers who can provide basic technology support, and a peaceful view of the Pioneer Valley. For these retreats, the CTFD welcomes faculty, helps them get settled, passes out tickets redeemable for refreshments and light snacks at the café on the ground floor, and remains available to address faculty concerns for the remainder of the day. Contact to reserve a spot at one or more of the retreats listed on our calendar.

Faculty Writing Retreats

The CTFD hosts a variety of large-scale faculty writing retreats throughout the year, including our long-standing, offsite “A Room of Your Own” retreat in May, which helps faculty jump-start their summer writing projects; our August Writing Retreat, which helps faculty prepare for the upcoming semester; and our January Writing Retreat, which encourages the effective use of writing time during winter break. These highly rated events each offer faculty a comfortable, relaxing, and collegial environment in which to work on their scholarly projects. For upcoming retreat dates, please see our calendar.

Summer Online Writing Fellowships

The CTFD's Summer Online Writing Fellowship is a unique writing opportunity designed for UMass Amherst faculty and facilitated by Cathy Luna and Andrea Luna, experienced local writing coaches and experienced instructors of higher education. Fellowships are one-month long (June 1 to June 30). As part of this program, fellows will:

• Establish concrete summer writing goals
  
• Write daily (ideally M-F), tracking progress online
  
• Receive online guidance on the writing process from a local writing coach*
  
• Interact online with a small community of committed writers
  
• Attend an in-person kick-off meeting and/or mid-month consultation with the writing coach (both optional)

The application period for 2011 fellowships has ended. Please refer all questions to .

*Please note that coaches will provide assistance with writing strategies and practices rather than read and respond to participants' writing.

Information on Editors and Writing Coaches

The CTFD does not endorse any particular editors or writing coaches; however, we do provide to faculty an alphabetical listing of editors and their services and experience.