Friends of GCA,
Please check below for a few updates about our upcoming GCA conference, including a new draft program, as you begin your plans for joining us at Mercer University in Macon, GA, February 26-28, 2026.
- Draft Program – A DRAFT program is attached at the end of this post. Please notify us of any typos or evident conflicts ASAP, as we work to finalize the polished version. Also, please expect some changes to this draft, which may include changing your time slot. We’ll do our best to keep to this, and you can expect a final version with final times/days by the second week of February.
- Networking Fair – We welcome your participation in our annual Networking Fair. If you would like to network with GCA membership to promote and discuss your job offering, Department, organization, graduate program, or other opportunities, please contact GCA (email sstuglin@highlands.edu ) and we’ll reserve you a free space at our Fair!
- Conference Volunteers – Thank you for volunteering! Some of you that volunteered to moderate or respond to a session will see you’ve been assigned to such a role on the draft program. Others may still be assigned, and we’ll reach out to some additional volunteers to ask for other kinds of help. Expect an email with some more information in the coming weeks.
- Program Advertising – Do you want to share information about a Program, Job, Department, School, or relevant organization with the GCA membership? You can support GCA Awards by purchasing space in our Program! Note these programs are also available at the GCA website and shared on our social media, broadening your message beyond conference attendees in a given year. Use the GCA Store to secure a half page ($75) or full page ($100) ad in the Program, and we’ll work with you to position your ad for high impact!
- Membership – Membership is required to register for and attend the annual conference. Becoming a member of GCA will help support our mission to foster communication inquiry as a means to understand our world and further communication education in Georgia. Membership lasts for one year from the date of purchase. Students pay no fee for membership. All other faculty and professionals pay either regular membership or can choose to select patron membership to offer additional support for GCA awards.
- Registration – Registration is required for conference attendees, and it provides access to all conference panels, sessions, meetings, and the film festival. Attendees will also have light refreshments available in the morning and lunch provided on Friday. Registration for the conference is free to students. All other attendees pay the same rate. You can save $10 with Early Bird registration through January 23!
- Film Festival Dinner – We welcome you to join us for Friday night dinner and screening of the top submissions to our annual Film Festival. We’ll also have Q&A with the filmmakers and presentation of fest awards at this event. The fee for this dinner is $25 and applies to students and all other attendees.
- Hotel Arrangements – We have secured a block of rooms at the Hilton Garden in Macon for 1 or 2 nights at $149/night. Many of our attendees choose to join us Thursday 2/26 after campus obligations, so we begin with a social event that evening. The conference itself features programming all day Friday 2/27 (presentations, roundtables, included lunch, Film Festival, and ticketed dinner) and Saturday 2/28 through early afternoon.
Looking forward to seeing you at the Conference!
Best,
GCA Team
Georgia Communication Association
https://gacomm.org