Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was founded as a university in 1870, but its roots can be traced back to a seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which eventually became Genesee College. Since 1920, the university has identified itself as nonsectarian, although it still maintains an affiliation with the United Methodist Church. Syracuse was elected to the Association of American Universities in 1966.