Northern Michigan University is a public university in Marquette, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1899 by the Michigan Legislature as Northern State Normal School. In 1963, the state designated the school a university and gave it the current name. The university comprises five academic divisions, offering some 180 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered by the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Health Sciences and Professional Studies. NMU's athletic teams are nicknamed the Wildcats and compete primarily in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; the hockey team competes in NCAA Division I Central Collegiate Hockey Association and the Nordic ski team competes in the Central Collegiate Ski Association.