American University, a 76-acre campus is located on the Ward Circle, at the intersection of Massachusetts and Nebraska avenues in Washington, D.C.. Being a leader in global education, it is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is recognized by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church. American University is the brainchild of George Washington. But it didn’t come into reality until 1893, when American University was chartered by an Act of the United States Congress through the vision of Methodist Bishop John Fletcher Hurst. The ground breaking was carried out in 1896, by university trustees, and after two decades, in 1914, the university was officially dedicated by President Woodrow Wilson. Just two years later, the first degrees - a masters degree in agricultural economics and two doctoral degrees - were awarded by American University. Initially, the instruction was offered only in the graduate level. Undergraduate programs (College of Liberal Arts) began in 1925, to train young people for public service. In the same year, University Hall (now known as Mary Graydon Center) was opened as the school's first women's dormitory. In 1926, Battelle Memorial Building (the future home of the College of Arts and Sciences) opened as the University Library, and Clendenen Gymnasium (razed later, in 1985, to make way for the sports and convocation center) was opened as a gym, theater, and assembly hall. During the World War II, the campus was used for research and bomb defusing training by the Navy. The period following World War II was a long and steady time of growth; the present structure of the university began to emerge during this time. The Washington Semester Program was established in 1947. The growth of the university during the 1950s and 1960s, truly helped American University to become an institution dedicated to experiential learning. By the 1980s, the university attained more strength by constructing or acquiring several new buildings such as Centennial Hall, Butler Pavilion, Bender Arena, Reeves Aquatic Center, and the entire Tenley Campus. American University has six schools and colleges - the College of Arts and Sciences, Kogod School of Business (1955), School of Communication (1957), School of International Service, School of Public Affairs (both started in 1972 but was reorganized to create two freestanding schools in 1988) and Washington College of Law (founded in 1896 primarily for women, merged with the university in 1949). It offered research and work experiences both in the classroom, throughout Washington, and around the world. Washington College of Law moved off-campus in 1996, to their new building in Spring Valley. The Ward Building, which houses the School of Public Affairs, underwent renovations to the interior and exterior. After extensive renovation, the Kogod School of Business moved to the building vacated by the Law School. American University offers 55 bachelors programs, 66 masters programs, 13 doctoral programs, JD and LLM degrees, and a variety of certificate programs. A distinctive feature of the university is its cosmopolitan, multicultural campus population. AU enrolls a diverse student body from throughout the U.S. and more than 160 countries. It is the first university in the country to offer wireless data, voice, and messaging capabilities on campus. American University owns and operates WAMU-FM, a not-for-profit public radio station, which was licensed to the university, in 1961. Two new venues for cultural activities - The Greenberg Theater and the Katzen Arts Center – are also attached to the campus.