Sam Houston State University (known as SHSU or Sam) was founded in 1879 and is a public university located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first such institution of its type in the State of Texas. It is named for one of Texas' founding fathers, Sam Houston, who made his home in the city. SHSU is part of the Texas State University System and has approximate enrollment of 17,000 students. The institution was the first institution classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education within the TSU System. Created by legislation signed by Governor Oran M. Roberts on April 21, 1879, Sam Houston Normal Institute's dedicated goal was to train teachers for the public schools of Texas—the first of its kind in the southwestern United States. On October 10 of the same year, the first class of 110 students and four faculty commenced instruction on the site of what had once been the campus of Austin College.