The American College of Greece was founded in Smyrna, Asia Minor in 1875 and is the considered to be Europe’s oldest and largest, comprehensive, U.S.-accredited academic institution and the largest private institute of tertiary education in Greece. However, it is not recognized by the Greek state as a university due to the Greek Constitution's reference to the public character of education. Founded in 1875 by American Christian missionaries as a primary and secondary school for girls in Smyrna, Asia Minor. The first baccalaurate degrees were awarded in 1969. Today it has 4 divisions: PIERCE College, DEREE College, The Graduate School and The School for Continuing and Professional Studies. The first division of the college was founded in Smyrna (today Izmir) in Asia Minor in 1875 as a school for girls. It was relocated to Hellenikon, Athens after the catastrophe of 1922 by invitation of Eleftherios Venizelos, then Prime Minister of Greece. During World War II the College premises were used as a hospital and through German occupation the school continued to operate in an underground manner using the homes of pupils and instructors as classrooms.