Syracuse University, commonly referred to as
Syracuse,
'Cuse, or
SU, is a private research university located in
Syracuse,
New York. The institution's roots can be traced to the
Genesee Wesleyan Seminary (later becoming
Genesee College), founded by the
Methodist Episcopal Church in
Lima, New York, in 1831. Following several years of debate over relocating the college to Syracuse, the university was established in 1870, independent of the college. Since 1920, the university has identified itself as
nonsectarian, although it maintains a relationship with
The United Methodist Church.