The University of Massachusetts Press opened its doors in 1963 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Its initial mandate focused on producing scholarly books and non-fiction works for academic audiences.
Poetry competitions started in 1975 with two distinct categories for established and emerging writers. Fiction prizes arrived much later in 2004, offering separate awards for novels and short story collections.
An interdisciplinary faculty committee oversees all operations of the press. This group ensures that academic standards remain high across every publication line through collaboration among members from different departments.
Participation in this trade organization aligned the press with major publishers opposing digital lending practices. Legal proceedings resulted in the removal of access to over 500,000 books from global readers.
The press currently holds membership in the Association of University Presses and participates in broader trade groups like The Association of American Publishers. These affiliations connect the small press to larger networks of scholarly communication.