Cal Poly students and faculty recreate campus on Minecraft for virtual graduation

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - A group of Cal Poly engineering students and faculty have come up with a creative alternative to an in-person graduation ceremony.

They are recreating the university’s campus on Minecraft so the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department can hold a virtual graduation ceremony at Spanos Stadium this month.

Due to COVID-19, this year’s on-campus graduation ceremonies have been postponed and some departments are holding virtual ceremonies.

The CSSE Department went a step further, launching a Cal Poly server on Minecraft and creating a version of campus during spring break. Other schools, including UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley, have made similar moves.

“My favorite part of this whole process so far has been seeing the professors enjoy themselves and hearing about the happiness and creative outlet that the server has given them so far,” said Kevin Krein, a student involved in the project.

Minecraft is a video game that allows players to create buildings, structures and whatever their imaginations come up with. Some describe it as a virtual Lego game.

To create the Minecraft Cal Poly, students and faculty used Google Earth, Cal Poly building floor plans, images of campus and “fond memories and imaginations,” said Professor Zoë Wood.

On June 13, about 100 graduating CSSE students and faculty will join the server at 1 p.m. and 'gather' at the recreated Spanos Stadium. Families can view the event through a live stream.

Department Chair Chris Lupo will present a brief welcome speech via Zoom before faculty member John Clements reads the names of each graduate as they walk their avatars across the virtual stage. When all the students have “walked,” their avatars will fly around campus.

“We will all be together in the virtual world — well, at least all of our avatars will be together,” said Wood.

For the latest commencement information, click here.

For the latest on the university’s ongoing planning and response around the pandemic, visit https://coronavirus.calpoly.edu/.