The sign on the 1936 Cosmopolitan Club Homecoming float is in Chinese which translates to "Society for World Harmony" The Cosmopolitan Club was formed in 1928; its aim was to "foster sympathy, understanding, and friendship between students on the campus regardless of nationality, color, or creed".
Almost from the beginning UNC graduates taught in other parts of the world, including Hawaii (1901), the Philippines (1901), India, China, and Africa.
As the reputation of the University grew, students came from China, Japan, the Philippines, Hawaii and the other Pacific Islands beginning in the 1920s and from the Middle East in the 1930s. Enrollment of international students increased following World War II.
Many of the early faculty members were born, raised, and/or educated in other countries and numerous faculty members have traveled, studied and/or taught overseas.