What is the Great Dane Dialogue?
Amidst a polarized political landscape, ongoing international conflicts and heightened tensions on college campuses nationwide, the University at Albany continues to embrace its responsibility as an educational institution to foster meaningful dialogue.
The Great Dane Dialogue is our campus-wide initiative to promote civil discourse, strengthen civic engagement and equip students with the skills to navigate disagreement with empathy, respect and purpose.
Civil Discourse & Free Speech
The Great Dane Dialogue is a cross-campus effort to promote civil discourse and inclusivity, and celebrate free speech, both foundational to scholarly inquiry and higher education.
Policies & Events
On this website, you’ll find key resources, including relevant policies, events and partners who can assist the Great Dane family to create a collaborative, communicative and inclusive community.
Shared Values
We brought our community together and captured, in one resource, the impactful work already being done across campus, reinforced our shared values and implemented a few new programs to nurture an inclusive community.
UAlbany’s Shared Values
ACCESS: To enable individuals to pursue learning, research and service regardless of economic, societal or physical factors.
Freedom of Speech — as a public institution, we have a unique obligation to protect free speech for members of the university community and the external community.
INTEGRITY: To be committed to — and expect from all — honesty, transparency and accountability.
COMMON GOOD: To work collectively and collaboratively to benefit our communities — and create a sustainable way of life on earth.
INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE: To value diversity of all forms, academic freedom, and the rights, dignity and perspectives of all individuals.
UAlbany rejects antisemitism, islamophobia, racism and all forms of hatred and bias. We are committed to promoting a culture of acceptance, inquiry and tolerance.
We value family formation and community connectedness and aspire to nurture a campus community in which everyone feels welcome.
Great Dane Dialogue: In Our Voices
In UAlbany’s social media accounts, you will hear from students, faculty and staff as they share what a community that is both inclusive and free means to them.
Look for the Great Dane Dialogue banner and share your perspective with us — you may be featured in our semester-long social media campaign. The Great Dane Dialogue social media team is out at events and in public spaces throughout the semester.
Throughout the semester, in university-wide messaging, programming and events, we’ll discuss the ongoing Great Dane Dialogue, including inclusivity, understanding and respect for our community.
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Upcoming Great Dane Dialogue Events
Past Great Dane Dialogue Events
UAlbany Votes
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UAlbany Votes Campaign
Within the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment, the UAlbany Votes initiative promotes civil discourse, inclusivity and civic engagement among students. Below is an overview of significant initiatives.
- UAlbany Votes Campaign: Encouraging students to vote, providing information on polling locations and early voting options aligning with the fall civic holidays.
- Educational Workshops: Focused on the importance of civic engagement, how to engage in civil discourse, and understanding the voting process.
- Collaborative Events: Partnering with various student organizations and departments to host panels, discussions and activities that promote inclusivity and civic engagement.
- Civic Action Plan: Every two years, the UAlbany Votes Committee develops a Civic Action Plan to guide the strategy for implementing civic engagement initiatives for our campus community.
Additionally, UAlbany is a participant in the national ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge and has been named a Voter Friendly Campus.
Constitution Day Essay Contest
Tuesday, September 15 through Tuesday, November 3, 2026
On September 17, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention gathered in Philadelphia to sign the document that formed the foundation of our great nation. Now, we celebrate this significant day with an essay contest, providing you with an opportunity to reflect on important issues related to the U.S. Constitution.
Essay Prompt
How much authority should the President hold — and who decides?
As head of the Executive Branch, the President is responsible for enforcing laws, directing national policy, serving as commander in chief of the armed forces and representing the nation at home and abroad. At the same time, the U.S. Constitution was designed to prevent any one person or branch of government from becoming too powerful.
In a well-developed essay, discuss the appropriate balance of presidential authority in a constitutional democracy, supporting your argument with historical examples, constitutional principles, current events and your own analysis.
Submission Information
- Who's eligible: Open to currently enrolled UAlbany students.
- Opening: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 8 a.m.
- Deadline: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
- Essay length: Between 500 to 1000 words and include proper citations.
- Submit: On MyInvolvement at 2026 Constitution Day Essay Contest.
- Winners: Announced on Reading Day, Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
- Cash prizes:
- 1st place: $500
- 2nd place: $250
- 3rd place: $100
To see last year’s series of programming and messages, visit the Great Dane Dialogue 2025.