As the school year starts and the classes and activities ramp up, students at MSSU are navigating more than just their new classes and peers. For one, one of the most noticeable changes on the MSSU campus is the large amount of construction taking place. The heavy machinery, loud noises, and large sector of parking lots blocked off has intruded on the regular path many students take to class. One of the biggest changes with this construction is the removal of a straight path from the parking lot to buildings such as Nixon, Reynolds, Spiva Library, and Billlingsly. As a result, students have found this is forcing them to take longer routes to get to their classes on time, causing frustration and potential tardiness.

Aleezah Mufti, a junior at MSSU, changed her schedule to get to class on time. “I’m used to taking a direct route using the small bridge and road. Now, with the construction, I typically leave my dorm at least ten minutes earlier to make it to class on time. I usually cross the road rather than using the student tunnel now, and go around the construction instead of walking straight.” Similar to Aleezah, the majority of the on-campus students at MSSU start their days earlier and use alternative routes to make it to classes on time.

The new freshmen arriving at MSSU may have missed the construction when touring the MSSU campus, and with the recent change, they are now adjusting to walking to class. Shreya, a recent freshman, has found that a useful path to go to her classes is going around the construction site by using the crosswalk and staying close to the sidewalk. Other students, like many of her classmates, have found the tunnel near campus to be a useful shortcut, especially when followed by a right turn, which leads to buildings such as Reynolds, Nixon, or Billingsly.

Although the construction has hindered many students walking paths to class, it is understood that the construction is a temporary change in order for the new Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center to be made, set to open by Fall 2026. The new Health Science Innovation Center will feature a new simulation hospital, cadaver labs, campus welcome center, along with other classroom and office spaces. Though the current construction is frustrating for many students, the new Health Science Innovation Center is an amazing addition to the MSSU campus, and it will help enhance both academic and student experiences long term.