LA PLATA, Md. — The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) has restructured its academic support services, combining its math and writing centers into a single location at the La Plata Campus while maintaining separate, dedicated assistance at its Leonardtown and Prince Frederick campuses. Announced on April 9, 2025, the update aims to enhance student resources, with free writing center services extended to the broader Southern Maryland community.
The newly integrated Learning Resource Center at La Plata, housed in Rooms 211 and 212, merges the Math Resource Center and Writing Center to foster a collaborative environment. The Math Resource Centers across all campuses provide tailored support for students tackling mathematical concepts, emphasizing practical strategies and lifelong learning. Meanwhile, the Writing Centers offer personalized feedback to sharpen writing skills for students and community members alike.
Stephanie McCaslin, Dean of Learning Resources in the Division of Learning, highlighted the move’s significance. “Our Writing Center and Math Resource Centers will complement each other and provide an inclusive and supportive environment where students can build confidence with their academic pursuits,” she said. “This integration marks a significant step in enhancing critical learning support for students in foundational courses, helping them build early academic momentum and succeed in upper-level courses. Our tutors empower students with individualized success strategies, that enhance understanding, reinforce real-world significance, and cultivate a commitment to lifelong learning.”
The impact of these resources is evident in student experiences. Jaime Davis, a St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office veteran deputy, completed her final CSM math course in March 2025 with help from the Math Resource Center. “I went to the center, and can I just say, they are wonderful,” Davis said. “I am so impressed at how good they are with math. They did not make me feel stupid; I was making a simple mistake, and they made me feel so much better about it. After I was done with the lesson, I decided to stay and work on a quiz by myself. I got an A on that quiz!”
Beyond tutoring, the La Plata Writing Center will launch a Writer’s Process Series in May 2025, partnering with Professor Emeritus Richard Siciliano and the CSM Foundation via the Emily Creswick fund. “Our goal is to feature local writers, including our own faculty and staff who are published authors, and give them a platform to share their creative processes,” McCaslin said. “Each session will highlight an author’s process, including their inspirations, tools, and methods, and the series will be open to students, staff, faculty, and community members.”
The series kicks off May 6 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Writing Center, recurring the first Tuesday of each month. Sessions will feature a talk, hands-on exercise, and discussion. CSM circulation librarian Samuel Flemming, a science fiction/fantasy author, opens the series, followed by adjunct faculty member and poet Kate Lassman in June, who is also working on a murder mystery novel.
Math Resource Centers operate Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at La Plata (Room LR 212), Leonardtown (Building B, Room 115), and Prince Frederick (Building A, Room 221), with Friday hours at La Plata from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A virtual option runs via Zoom, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Writing Centers are open at La Plata (Room LR 211) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Leonardtown (Building B, Room 111) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Prince Frederick (Building A, Room 125) Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with virtual hours mirroring the math schedule.
More details are available at CSM’s websites for the Math Resource Center and Writing Center, alongside free online tutoring options.
