With ongoing construction on the campyus of Mississippi State University, it has been hard for students to get around, especially students with disabilities.
Dan Whatley, construction administrator in the physical plant administration, said the construction is important because of MSU’s growth.
“Because MSU is a growing university, It is important to continue to grow and improve our infrastructure,” Whatley said. “We are all here to serve the missions of MSU— learning, service and research. Without sufficient facilities and infrastructure, these missions would be greatly hindered.”
Whatley said he and his staff try to decrease the negative effects for the people with disabilities and increase the positive effects for the projects they are doing.
“One of these laws that we must comply with is the Americans with Disabilities Act, and we work hard to ensure that our design teams understand the importance to MSU of ADA,” Whatley said. “Extensive planning takes place to minimize negative effects to our community with disabilities and to maximize the positive effects that come at the completion of the project.”
Roger Baker, MSU campus master planner, said in order for the university to grow, the framework of the campus must grow. 
“The goal for the university to reach 22,000 students,” Baker said. “In order to reach this goal, it is imperative to grow the campus’ infrastructure.”
Baker said the campus took on a new plan and organized a study showing the university needed to have some new addictions to the campus.
“During 2009, campus undertook a new campus master plan. As part of that plan, a space study was conducted,” Baker said. “That study revealed that in order for our university to comfortably reach that goal, the university needed to add library, food service and classroom and residence hall space. The great thing about campus construction and renovation construction is it gives the university the ability to update some spaces that were built from 1994 to 2009, up to the current 2010 ADA Law”, Baker said.
Baker said the construction affects everybody, but the construction on campus gives the university a chance to update some of the buildings that were built 20 years ago.
Baker said people with disabilities are of high importance concerning campus construction, and the university always cooperates with the rules of the ADA.
“Individuals with disabilities are always at the heart of campus design and construction of projects on campus,” Baker said. “On most projects ADA is not only adhered to, but the university tries to go above and beyond the minimum standards of the law.”
Baker said the construction on campus benefits MSU in many ways.
“New and renovation construction on campus benefits the University in student recruitment, student retention and student quality of education experience at the university, just to name a few,” he said.