History

The University of Maryland Counseling Center has had an educational skills service since 1945. Prior to 1952, the service was limited to counseling individual students or small groups. In 1954, small classes were added to the service offerings. The Learning Assistance Service, then known as the Reading and Study Skills Laboratory (RSSL), was established in 1957 under the direction of Martha J. Maxwell, a nationally recognized expert in the field of learning assistance. In 1960, RSSL was revised to provide individualized services with a small staff and a self-help approach.