Marist University, a privately owned institution headquartered in the US, was founded in 1905 and operates with approximately 2,890 employees. Originally established by the Marist Brothers, a Catholic religious institute, to train brothers for educational vocations, the university is located in Poughkeepsie Town, New York. In 1929, it received state accreditation to provide a broader array of degrees in the arts and sciences. The institution maintains a 180-acre main campus overlooking the Hudson River and includes a branch campus in Florence, Italy. Marist is a member of NCAA Division I, sponsoring 23 collegiate sports. In 2003, the Catholic Church formally declared Marist a secular institution.