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Students are using Minecraft to re-create college campuses

Some are reportedly planning to also have virtual commencement ceremonies inside Minecraft.

Abrar Al-Heeti Technology Reporter
Abrar Al-Heeti is a technology reporter for CNET, with an interest in phones, streaming, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. She's also worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.
Expertise Abrar has spent her career at CNET analyzing tech trends while also writing news, reviews and commentaries across mobile, streaming and online culture. Credentials
  • Named a Tech Media Trailblazer by the Consumer Technology Association in 2019, a winner of SPJ NorCal's Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2022 and has three times been a finalist in the LA Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards.
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Abrar Al-Heeti
Minecraft

Students have rebuilt their college campuses on Minecraft. 

 Getty Images

As college campuses around the world are closed due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, some students are using Minecraft to virtually rebuild their campuses, according to a Tuesday report by The Verge. 

Students at schools like the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University and Boston University have turned to the platform to re-create everything from dorms to food trucks. Some are reportedly planning to have their commencement ceremonies take place inside Minecraft.

There's been a significant increase in searches for Minecraft server hosting over the last few weeks, The Verge notes, and students are sharing their creations across Facebook, Reddit and Discord. 

Many cities and countries have imposed lockdowns to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the newly identified coronavirus. Major events have been called off or postponed, and several employees are being told to work from home, while others have been laid off. The US federal government extended its social distancing guidelines to April 30, and colleges have said they'll hold online classes on platforms like Zoom for the remainder of the semester.

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