The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri ) is a public research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest University and the flagship of the four campus University of Missouri System. Founded in 1839 it was the first public university west of the Mississippi River. It is a member of the Association of American Universities as well as a land-grant and space-grant institution. Enrolling 30,870 in 2017 it offers over 300 degree programs in thirteen major academic division. Its well-known Missouri School of Journalism was founded by Walter Williams in 1908 as the world's first journalism school; It publishes a daily newspaper, the Columbia Missourian, and operates an NBC affiliate KOMU. The University of Missouri Research Reactor Center is the world's most powerful university research reactor and is the United States sole source of isotopes used in nuclear medicine. The university operates University of Missouri Health Care, running a number of hospitals and clinics in Mid-Missouri. It's NCAA Division I athletic teams are known as the Missouri Tigers, and compete in the rigorous Southeastern Conference. The American tradition of homecoming is claimed to have originated at Missouri.The campus is home to the State Historical Society of Missouri, and the Museum of Art and Archaeology. It's historic center, Francis Quadrangle, is a National Historic District. Jesse Hall and the Missouri Theatre are large performance venues and utilized by the University of Missouri School of Music.