21st Midwest Association for Information Systems Conference, Athens, Ohio
May 21-22, 2026
Sponsored by the AIS MWAIS chapter, the conference is hosted by the
College of Business at Ohio University
Call for Papers
On behalf of the MWAIS 2026 Conference Committee and the MWAIS Executive Committee, we take great pleasure in inviting you to plan on submitting a paper, panel, research-in-progress, or a doctoral proposal for the doctoral consortium in the 2026 MWAIS annual meeting. We would urge you to encourage your graduate students and colleagues to participate in this opportunity to showcase their work to a small, focused group of researchers while enjoying Athens’ hospitality.
Conference Theme: The Future of Work: Adapting to the Age of AI and Automation
This conference theme delves into the profound changes brought by artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in the workplace. It explores how businesses and workers can adapt to a new era of digital transformation, highlighting the emerging skills needed to thrive in a tech-driven economy. Key areas of focus include the importance of reskilling and upskilling the workforce, fostering human-AI collaboration, and adjusting leadership strategies to guide organizations through technological shifts. Discussions will address the changing nature of human relationships in work environments, the curriculum adjustments required to equip future generations, and the role of technology in exacerbating or alleviating social inequality. Additionally, it will examine how AI and automation will influence global geopolitics, shift economic power, and contribute to the growing dominance of tech companies in the global landscape. This theme will offer a comprehensive view of how AI and automation are shaping the future of work, with implications for businesses, individuals, and societies alike.
Examples of topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- AI and the Future of Work
- Teaching AI in IS Education
- AI-Based Pedagogy and Learning
- Responsible AI and Governance of AI
- IT-Driven Corporate Leadership & Strategy Transformation
- AI-Driven Process Automation
- AI in Enterprise Systems
- Analytics in IS Education
- Digital Transformation Strategies
- IoT-Enabled Business Innovation
- Data Analytics for Decisions
- Advanced Decision Support Systems
- Information Security and Privacy
- Big Data Management
- Digital Trust and Transparency
- Human–Computer Interaction Design
- Sustainability and Green IT
- Cloud-Based Information Systems
The submission template and the submission link are provided below.
Important Dates
Submission system opens: January 19, 2026
Deadline for Paper Submissions: March 7, 2026, 11:59 PM EST
Review Due date for reviewers to submit their reviews: April 17, 2026
The decision will be sent to the authors by April 24, 2026
Deadline for at least one of the authors of the accepted papers to register for the conference: April 30, 2026
Types of Papers and Proposals
Full-length papers, research-in-progress papers, and panel and workshop proposals are welcome. All submitted papers will be reviewed by qualified individuals through a double-blind peer-review process. Acceptance of papers and abstracts is subject to final approval by the Program Committee. Accepted papers, panels, workshops, and proposals of authors who have registered for the conference by the close of online registration will be scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting. Presented papers and research-in-progress papers, and approved panel and workshop proposals will be published in the Proceedings.
Authors must use the official Submission Template when submitting full papers, research-in-progress papers, and panel or workshop proposals.
Paper or proposal submission acknowledges that at least one of the author(s) will register for and attend the conference and personally present the accepted paper or proposal at the time specified in the conference program.
Doctoral Consortium Proposal Submissions
The conference also invites proposals from current doctoral students for the doctoral consortium. The 2026 MWAIS Doctoral Consortium will focus on two critical skills that determine academic success: crafting research logic and delivering job talks. Through structured peer review, cross-paradigm challenges, and presentation coaching, you’ll leave with helpful feedback.
Our unique rubric-based approach ensures every participant receives actionable, specific guidance on strengthening their research narrative and presentation impact. Join us at the MWAIS Doctoral Consortium to transform your dissertation from a work-in-progress to a career-launching platform. Please submit your application and self-assessment for the MIS Doctoral Consortium at https://forms.gle/MEVgmrVYEBdS6Nmq9. The doctoral proposals are due by the submission deadline indicated in this call.
Submission Policy
The submission of a paper or abstract means the author certifies it is not copyrighted, has not been accepted for publication in a journal or proceedings, has not been presented at another professional meeting, has not been accepted for presentation at another professional meeting, and is not under review for a journal, proceedings, or presentation at another professional meeting. Concurrent submission and/or presentation of the same or similar paper at another conference is considered a breach of professional ethics. AIS has a code of ethical conduct accessible at https://aisnet.org/page/MemberCodeOfConduct.
Submission System Link
MWAIS 2026 – Submission System Link
Please note there is a separate submission link for doctoral consortium proposals (see above).
Program Participation
Paper reviewers and session chairs are needed for the program to be a success. Please contact one of the Program Chairs by February 15th, 2026, if you are interested in serving as a session chair or reviewer. Authors who submit papers should expect to be asked to review at least one paper for the conference. Please contact a Program Chair concerning proposals for workshops, panels, and symposium.
Best Paper Awards
The conference will recognize excellence in research through three Best Paper Awards: the Daniel J. Power Best Paper Award, the Best Student Paper Award, and the Best HCI Paper Award. Winning papers will have the opportunity to be fast-tracked for publication in the Journal of Midwest AIS (JMWAIS), and each accepted paper will receive a $500 monetary award.
Student Registration and Travel Scholarships
We are excited to share that all student presenters (with at least one accepted paper) – undergraduate, master’s, and PhD, will receive free registration for the 2026 MWAIS Conference! This initiative underscores MWAIS’s strong commitment to nurturing the next generation of IS scholars by making the conference accessible, inclusive, and student-centered. We hope this opportunity inspires even more students to present their research, connect with peers and faculty, and become actively involved in the MWAIS community.
In addition, MWAIS is proud to offer travel scholarships for PhD students presenting at the 2026 conference. Up to 15 PhD students, each with at least one accepted paper, will receive travel support of up to $300 to help offset expenses. Through these initiatives, MWAIS continues to invest in developing emerging scholars, fostering meaningful engagement, and advancing the future of IS research and education.