The Business, Economic, and Applied Research (BEAR) Center at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), in partnership with the Academy of Business Education (ABE), invites scholars and undergraduate students to share their scholarship at the Seventh Annual GGC Research Symposium. This hybrid conference will be held February 18-19, 2027, and provides a forum for the exchange of innovative ideas, research findings, pedagogical practices, and professional experiences. This year's theme, "The Future in Focus: Education, Technology, and Practice," encourages exploration of emerging trends, technologies, and approaches that are shaping policy, teaching, learning, research, and professional practice. Submissions related to the conference theme are encouraged, and proposals on other relevant topics are equally welcome.
CONFERENCE TRACKS
Faculty, graduate students, and industry scholars may submit proposals to the following tracks:
• General Applied Research
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
Undergraduate students may submit their work to the:
• Student Research Track
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Authors must certify that submitted work has not been previously published at the time of submission.
All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review conducted by reviewers with relevant subject-matter expertise. All sessions will be conducted in a hybrid format, and authors may elect to present either in person or virtually. Conference proceedings will be published online by ABE and will consist of accepted abstracts only.
STUDENT RESEARCH SUBMISSIONS
Student presenters must be sponsored by a faculty mentor who is familiar with the project and supports its presentation at an academic conference. Faculty sponsors may serve as co-authors; however, the research and presentation should primarily represent the work of the student author(s). Each submission must include complete contact information for all authors and co-authors.
IMPORTANT DATES AND INFORMATION
• Submission Deadline: November 9, 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: December 11, 2026
• Abstract Length: Up to 250 words
REVIEWER VOLUNTEERS
To support the peer-review process, presenters, co-authors, and attendees are encouraged to volunteer as reviewers. Reviewer participation helps maintain the quality and scholarly rigor of the Symposium.
SUBMISSION AND REVIEWER VOLUNTEER FORM
Use the link below to submit a proposal and/or volunteer as a reviewer:
REGISTRATION
All presenters and attendees, except GGC student presenters, must register for the symposium and pay the conference registration fee using the link below. The early registration fee is $80 through January 15, 2027, and the regular registration fee is $100 thereafter. Registration closes February 5, 2027.
QUESTIONS?
Email: symposium@ggc.edu
Conference Chair:
Dr. Mark A. Partridge –BEAR Center Director and Associate Professor of Economics
Conference Co-Chairs:
Dr. Tracey King Schaller – BEAR Center Associate Director and Associate Professor of Marketing
Dr. Janita Rawls – ABE President and Professor of Management
Student Research Chair:
Dr. Wes Routon – BEAR Center Associate Director of Business Analytics and Professor of Economics
