We are University of Rochester students creating a virtual campus experience to connect with our university community while we are apart during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal of Virtual UR is to foster community between University of Rochester students, families, and educators while we are separated due to geography and the global pandemic, and to connect the university’s senior classes of 2020 and 2021 to each other and their home beside the Genesee through a series of virtual events that honor the students’ many achievements.
Virtual UR is an independent initiative started by University of Rochester students during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in March 2020.
As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, university students who became accustomed to a life beside the Genesee found themselves spread far apart geographically from their peers and their alma mater. To help foster community from afar, project cofounders Alexander Pavlicin and Kyhl Weber set out to build a full-scale Minecraft replica of some of the most memorable icons of River Campus, beginning with Rush Rhees Library and the Eastman Quad. The goal was to make a virtual server where students and families could freely interact with each other and their alma mater from anywhere in the world.
We soon realized other students had also been working on Minecraft projects, artwork, and other forms of expression surrounding commencement and the university as a whole. The team expanded the project to merge together with fellow students Sean Lee and Serena Flint, taking on the name “Virtual UR” and creating a new website and dedicated Minecraft server.
The aim of Virtual UR is to:
- Foster community between University of Rochester students, families, and educators while they are separated due to geography and the global pandemic
- Connect the university’s senior class of 2020 to each other and their home beside the Genesee through a series of virtual commencement events aimed at honoring the class’s many achievements
On our website, VirtualUR.com, and our social media we’ll provide resources and opportunities in support of our mission.
On behalf of all the individuals who helped make this project a reality, we hope you find solace during this troubling time. Stay safe and be well!
Virtual UR’s core team:
- Alexander Pavlicin (‘21), Cofounder and Project Manager
- Kyhl Weber (‘21), Cofounder and World Developer
- Sean Lee (‘21), World Developer
- Serena Flint (‘21, T5 ‘22), World Developer
Special thanks to:
- Elva Resa Publishing for donating the cost of building and hosting VirtualUR.com.
- Jayda Medina (‘21) for assistance with website development.
- University Archivist Melissa Mead and Director of Diversity Programming Eleanor Oi for their assistance with obtaining an architectural drawing of the Rush Rhees Library facade and commencement floor plans.
- Associate Director of Student Life Operations Eric Howard for his assistance with obtaining floor plans of Douglass Commons.