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Conference flyer
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Registration

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Submissions

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 Great Plains Students'  Psychology Convention (GPSPC)

March 27-28, 2026

      College of the Ozarks is excited to host the Great Plains Students' Psychology Convention on March 27th & 28th, 2026. If you are new to Great Plains, we want you to know Great Plains 2026 is the perfect conference for first time undergraduate students to attend and to present their research. Great Plains has been and will be a welcoming conference for all students, regardless of research experience. The CofO faculty planning GPSPC '26 want to welcome all undergraduate and Master's-level graduate students to submit their research for oral or poster presentations over the course of the two day convention. 

 

Stay tuned for further updates!

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Keynote Speaker: Tim Sisemore, Ph.D.
Keynote Speaker: Tim Sisemore, Ph.D.
Keynote Speaker Tim Sisemore, Ph.D. Dr. Sisemore is a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of anxiety and OCD through the Anxiety and OCD Treatment Center. He is licensed in 3 states and has PsyPact/APIT credentials to practice in most states. Academically, Dr. Sisemore most recently was Professor of Psychology in the PsyD program at California Baptist University and serves on the editorial board of The Journal of Psychology and Christianity. He has written 11 books and numerous peer-reviewed articles. His work has largely focused on adapting empirical methods to study religion and spirituality. Dr. Sisemore’s most recent book, edited with Dr. Joshua Knabb, is The Psychology of World Religions and Spiritualities: An Indigenous Perspective, published by Templeton/Rutgers. He is former president of APA Division 36.
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College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO

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About Great Plains
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College of the Ozarks is pleased to partner with Comfort Inn at Holiday Hills for attendees of the 46th annual Great Plains Psychology Convention at the discounted rate of $105 + tax per night.

**Reservations must be made prior to February 27, 2026 to get the discounted rate. 

  • Individuals will call the Hotel directly to make reservations: 417-335-4727.

  • Individuals must ask for this Group Name, The Great Plains Psychology at College of the Ozarks to get the discounted rate.
  • The room block will be released after February 27, 2026.
  • We will extend this special group rate for guests who want to arrive 3 days prior and/or stay 3 days past date of your contracted event.
  • Rates quoted are taxable at 12.35%

Franchise member points are not available on group pricing

Can I attend the conference even if I'm not presenting?

Yes! Particularly if you have not attended a research conference before, you can get a feel for what it's like. You can also support other students who are presenting by attending their sessions and viewing their posters. 

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Will my proposal be accepted?

Your proposal will be accepted if you follow the instructions, submit before the deadline, and if your title and abstract are comprehensible. You are encouraged to submit well in advance of the deadline so that, if there is a problem with your submission, we can contact you and rectify the problem. 

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Is it better to do a poster or an oral presentation?

This is really a matter of personal preference and of your development as a scholar. Many students like poster presentations because they do not have to stand up in front of a group of people and there is more one-on-one interaction. On the other hand, an oral presentation is over with more quickly! Talk with your faculty sponsor about which presentation format would be better for you. 

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Can I submit my proposal even if I'm not done collecting data?

There is no "minimum" amount of data that you need for your presentation to be accepted. It is okay if you continue to collect data after you submit your proposal, but keep in mind that the deadline for conference submissions is very close to the date of the conference. 

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What should I do at the conference?

If you are presenting, show up at the right time and the right place, and have some fun with your presentation. Use it as a learning experience. Attend other presentations and go to poster sessions too. You can pick and choose what you want to see. You may want to attend your friends' presentations to support them, but also look for presentations on research that you personally find interesting. We highly recommend that you attend the Friday night banquet and keynote speech and the presentation by our distinguished speaker on Saturday. Also use the opportunity to chat with students and faculty at other institutions. 

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How should I dress?

There is no dress code for the conference (but please dress!). Some students will wear everyday casual clothing, just as they would attending class. Other students prefer to dress professionally, in business attire or "business casual." If you are presenting, you may feel more comfortable and more confident if you are dressed professionally. 

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What do I need to know about conference etiquette?

Please be respectful of your fellow conference attendees. Use your common sense about what behaviors are appropriate. When attending an oral presentation session, please turn off your cell phone or pager and give your full attention to the speaker. Please do not enter or exit from an oral presentation room while a presentation is in progress; wait for the applause at the end before entering or exiting. Presenters at poster sessions and oral presentations appreciate questions, especially encouraging and thoughtful questions. Any criticisms or concerns you have about someone's research can be phrased in a respectful and supportive manner. If you found someone's research interesting or if you were impressed by a poster or presentation, tell that person so!

Coming Soon!

 

The genesis of the Great Plains Students' Psychology Convention was one of those fortuitous happenings that occur rarely. In the Fall of 1980, a group of students from Sterling College had traveled to Emporia State University (ESU) to hear a guest speaker. Following the speaker's presentation, the Sterling College students were talking with a group of ESU students. Faculty members Arn Froese (Sterling College) and Steve Davis (ESU) observed the interaction and simultaneously voiced the opinion that the students genuinely benefited from such interactions. These comments prompted the decision to have some type of student gathering on a more permanent, annual basis. The Kansas Students' Contributions to Psychology Convention and Paper Competition was the result. The guiding principle for the establishment of this convention was the desire to provide a forum for psychology students to exchange ideas, discuss relevant topics, and gain experience presenting papers. 

The initial convention, held April 24-25, 1981, established a precedent that persists: The conventionis a two-day affair that is held on a Friday and Saturday. The initial Friday events consisted of a banquet and keynote speaker with all student presentations occurring on Saturday. 

By 1983 the convention was sufficiently established as an annual event that the decision was made to try moving it to different locations in order to facilitate attendance by students in other parts of the state. By 1988 participation had extended beyond the borders of Kansas to include students from Missouri and Nebraska. In recognition of the expanding geographical impact of the conference, the name was permanently changed in 1990 to the Great Plains Students' Psychology Convention. 

Spearheaded by the indefatigable efforts of Mark Ware (Creighton University), the Journal of Psychological Inquiry was founded in 1994 to provide undergraduate students who present at the Great Plains Convention a refereed journal in which to publish. As the Great Plains Students' Psychology Convention enters its third decade, its success and growth have exceeded the wildest dreams and expectations of its founders. Hopefully, its future holds continued growth and professional development activities for the psychology students of the Great Plains. 

1. 1981 - Emporia State University 

2. 1982 - Emporia State University 

3. 1983 - Emporia State University 

4. 1984 - Emporia State University

5. 1985 - Pittsburg State University 

6. 1986 - Emporia State University 

7. 1987 - Emporia State University 

8. 1988 - Benedictine College 

9. 1989 - Nebraska Wesleyan University 

10. 1990 - Missouri Western State College 

11. 1991 - Bethany College 

12. 1992 - University of Nebraska at Kearney 

13. 1993 - Northwest Missouri State University 

14. 1994 - Rockhurst College 

15. 1995 - Emporia State University 

16. 1996 - Wichita State University 

17. 1997 - University of Nebraska at Kearney 

18. 1998 - Nebraska Wesleyan University 

19. 1999 - Friends University

20. 2000 - Missouri Western State College 

21. 2001 - Missouri Southern State College 

22. 2002 - Emporia State University 

23. 2003 - University of Nebraska at Kearney 

24. 2004 - Rockhurst and Park Universities 

25. 2005 - Creighton University 

26. 2006 - Central Missouri State University 

27. 2007 - Friends University 

28. 2008 - Emporia State University 

29. 2009 - University of Nebraska at Kearney 

30. 2010 - Missouri Western State University 

31. 2011 - Washburn University 

32. 2012 - Northwest Missouri State University

33. 2013 - Creighton University 

34. 2014 - Rockhurst University

35. 2015 - Friends University 

36. 2016 - University of Nebraska at Kearney

37. 2017 - Fort Hays State University

38. 2018 - Washburn University

39. 2019 - Missouri State University

40. 2020 - Missouri Western State University

41. 2021 - Fort Hays State University

42. 2022 - Emporia State University

43. 2023 - Emporia State University

44. 2024 - 

45. 2025 - University of Central Missouri 

46. 2026 - College of the Ozarks

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Friday, March 27th Parking On Friday, March 27th, parking will be available in the two lots indicated on this map. The Keynote address will be given in the auditorium of the Plaster Business Building (#40).
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Saturday, March 28th Parking On Saturday, March 28th, parking will be available in the three indicated lots. Presentations will be delivered in the Dee Ann White Engineering Center (#46) and the William S. Knight Patriotic Education Center (#45).
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With gratitude for the College of the Ozarks Associates' Grant. Thank you for your support.