Boston University (BU) is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Although chartered by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1869, Boston University traces its roots to the establishment of the Newbury Biblical Institute in Newbury, Vermont in 1839. The University organized formal Centennial observances both in 1939 and 1969. blank">Boston University | Visitor Center | About the University |History, retrieved May 6, 2006

With more than 3,000 faculty members and nearly 30,000 students, Boston University is the fourth-largest private university in the United States of America and the city's fourth-largest employer. The University offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees through 18 schools and colleges and operates two urban campuses. The main campus is situated along the _Charles River in Boston's Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood, where it is bisected by the Massachusetts Turnpike. The Boston University Medical Campus is in Boston's South End neighborhood. Its sports rivalry with nearby Boston College is among the strongest.