Newly Renovated Campus Center Ballroom Hosts College Tour Premiere

A crowd of people dressed in mostly purple, surround a person dressed in a Great Dane mascot outfit and a man with his hand raised, signaling number one, outside in a plaza against a blue sky with cloud cover.

UAlbany's episode of the Amazon Prime Series "The College Tour" will premiere on campus on Thursday, Sept. 4. (Photo provided by The College Tour)

By Michael Parker

ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 2, 2025) — The stage is set and it’s time to dim the lights. “The College Tour,” featuring the University at Albany and its students, is set for its world premiere on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the newly refurbished Campus Center Ballroom.

The event, open to all students, faculty and staff, will feature a Hollywood-style premiere party, themed mocktails and a retro-style photo booth with digital and physical downloads. In addition, the University will host a panel discussion featuring several of the student stars, as well as a short ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated ballroom.

A TV series focused on the college experience from a student point of view, “The College Tour” was created by Alex Boylan, the second-season winner of “The Amazing Race.” The show provides a glimpse of what students will find when they arrive on a college campus, including housing, academics and the student experience.

“At the University at Albany, we know we have a beautiful campus, innovative academic programs and a top-notch campus culture – this new episode of ‘The College Tour’ gives us an opportunity to highlight our university’s wonderful attributes to prospective students across the country and around the world,” said UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez. “I am so proud of the hardworking and talented UAlbany students featured in the episode – they represent the very best of our university. This episode should give every member of the Great Dane family a deep sense of pride.”

A girl poses in a dance move in a dance studio with her hands raised and at her sides. she wears a gray shirt with the letters UALBANY on it and black leggings, as she is filmed by a man with a camera wearing a portable rigging. — UAlbany student Davani Melendez of Jackson Heights, N.Y., performs a dance in the Well studio in a behind-the-scenes photo from "The College Tour." (Photo provided by The College Tour)

“Working with the University at Albany has been such an incredible experience. From day one, the students, faculty and staff welcomed our team with open arms and an energy that made filming here truly special,” said Boylan, executive producer and host of The College Tour. “We set out to capture the spirit of what it means to be a Great Dane—the fellowship, the community and the excitement of discovery—and I think audiences will feel that in every story shared in this episode.”

UAlbany's episode showcases the University's story through the perspectives of 10 undergraduate and graduate students, with a focus on campus life, academics and research, study abroad, campus resources, first-generation student stories, internships, athletics and life in the Capital Region.

The doors to the ballroom will open at 6:45 p.m., with the episode set to stream on the main screen at 7:30 p.m., shortly after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The panel discussion will follow, at about 8:15 p.m.

In addition to Amazon Prime and other streaming services, UAlbany’s episode will be available to watch for free through “The College Tour” app and website.