Bemidji State University (BSU) is a public state university in Bemidji, Minnesota, USA, located on the shores of Lake Bemidji. It is a part of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU). BSU was founded in 1919 as Bemidji State Normal School. The name was later changed to Bemidji State Teachers College, then shortened to Bemidji State College and finally Bemidji State University. During the 1998–1999 academic year, the University Board of Regents recommended changing the name of the university to Minnesota State University–Bemidji, just as Moorhead State University and Mankato State University had changed their names to Minnesota State University Moorhead and Minnesota State University, Mankato, respectively. The board argued this would emphasize the fact that BSU was a Minnesota university and thus attract more students from both in-state (who would otherwise be unaware that it was located in Minnesota) and out-of-state (who saw Minnesota as a good state in which to attend university). Large vocal and written opposition from students, alumni, and local townspeople made the Board withdraw the recommendation.