The president of Florida State University is the executive officer of the Florida State University board of trustees, and, essentially, the leader of the university. Florida State's campus is in Tallahassee, Florida. Although the institution was officially founded on January 24, 1851, it officially became a Liberal Arts College in 1897. Florida State is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher education in the state of Florida.