Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus moved to north Hammond in 1928, when it became known as Southeastern Louisiana College. It achieved university status in 1970. There are approximately 15,000 students representing 43 states and 66 countries enrolled. During the 1990s Southeastern was the fastest-growing college in the United States. Southeastern's colors are green and gold, and the mascot is the Lions. Southeastern's sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (FCS for football) in the Southland Conference. What began as a junior college supported by local taxes developed into a major university as Southeastern has grown to meet the evolving needs of southeast Louisiana and the Florida parishes. On July 7, 1925, the voters overwhelmingly approved a bond issue that created Hammond Junior College.