The University administration initially opposed American participation in the war in Europe.  Administrators feared that U.S. entry into war would result in a repeat of events that occurred during the Civil War: a mass exodus of students that forced the school to close until the conflict was over.  Therefore, President William S. Currell and the board of trustees resisted efforts to establish military training at Carolina. But as America drew closer to entering the conflict, Currell and the trustees realized that introducing a military program to the curriculum was inevitable.

When the United States joined the conflict in April 1917, the University trustees approved the establishment of the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Carolina within a month. The ROTC had a profound impact on the University.  At the start of the 1917-18 academic year, three-fourths of the student body joined the ROTC, turning the campus into a virtual training camp.  Additional military training was established in September 1918 via the Student Army Training Corps.  SATC students were members of the United States Army, but were on furlough status and without pay until called to duty. 

The Great War seriously disrupted the University’s operation.  By the fall of 1918, nearly half of the faculty members had taken leaves of absence to serve in the armed forces or engage in other war-related work for government agencies.  Throughout the war, telegrams from the war department arrived on Currell’s desk, requesting the immediate services of particular professors.  Although President Currell and the Board of Trustees were unhappy about the loss of so many professors, they granted all leave requests to assist in the war effort.