Western New Mexico University, a public university located in Silver City, New Mexico, has served the people of the state of New Mexico and its surrounding areas as a comprehensive, regional, rural, public coeducational university since 1893 and caters to a student body diverse in age, culture, language and ethnic background. Founded in the Territory of New Mexico on February 11, 1893 as the New Mexico Normal School, the school began to offer classes on September 3, 1894 in a rented Presbyterian church. On June 2, 1893, the nascent board of regents accepted 20 acres (81,000 m) of Town of Silver City land situated on a hillside overlooking the town donated by Regent, and Mayor Town of Silver City, Colonel John W. Fleming. In November 1896, the school's first permanent building, Old Main, was dedicated and within twenty years enrollment had reached nearly 500 students. WNMU offers more than 70 areas of study. Ten master degrees, 41 baccalauereate degrees, and 18 associate degrees and certificate programs are available. Fields of study include accounting, criminal justice, education, nursing, occupational therapy, and zoology. In fall of 2009, enrollment was 3,269.