The Learning Resources Center (LRC) opened in 1969 and began as little more than an audiovisual (AV) center for what was then the Department of American Thought and Language ot ATL (now the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures or WRAC). The first coordinator, Dan Preston, developed speed reading and vocabulary building programs that were primarily used by students in ATL classes. Throughout the 1970s, the Center continued to grow and increase the number of services it offered to MSU students.

Elaine Cherney became the second coordinator of the LRC in 1981. She enlarged the reading offerings, and oversaw the addition of a computer learning lab to the Center. The LRC also expanded its tutoring and outreach services under Cheney's leadership by opening an evening tutoring location in a residence hall.

In 1997, Pat Cavanaugh became the coordinator and the Center expanded its tutoring offerings again, established two more satellite locations in residence halls, and increased staff. Fred Barton became the coordinator in 2002 until his retirement in the 2016-2017 academic year.

In August 2017, the LRC became the Collaborative Learning Center (CLC) and shifted its focus to training peer educators in their academic units. (Source: https://undergrad.msu.edu/news/view/id/162)