21st Annual Meeting, 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

Submission system opens: January 19, 2026
Deadline for Paper Submissions: March 1, 2026, 11:59 PM EST

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 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.

Papers will also be accepted on the major IS themes, including, but not limited to the following:

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • IS Curriculum and Pedagogy
  • IS Ethics
  • Data Analytics
  • Decision Support and Expert Systems
  • Enterprise Systems (ERP)
  • Information Security and Privacy
  • Big Data
  • Trust
  • Human Computer Interaction
  • Sustainability & Green IT

The submission template is provided under Types of Papers and Proposal below.

Types of Papers and Proposals

Full-length papers, research-in-progress, panel proposals, workshop proposals, and doctoral proposals are welcome. All submitted papers will be reviewed by qualified individuals through a double-blind peer-review process. Acceptance of papers and abstracts are 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 will be published in the Proceedings. Use the following template to submit your paper or proposal: Submission Template.

Paper or proposal submission acknowledges that 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.

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.

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

Best Paper Awards will be presented to up to three outstanding papers. These papers will also be fast-tracked for submission to the Journal of Midwest AIS (JMWAIS). Papers that are subsequently accepted and published in JMWAIS will receive an award of $500 per paper.

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.