Founded by the New York Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1965, Friends World (now Global College), became nonsectarian in the mid 1970s. In the 1991-92 academic year, Friends World affiliated with Long Island University.. As part of the University, Global College students may take advantage of traditional courses that are sometimes required for specific graduate programs such as medical school. Most Global College students take part in the Long Island University multi-campus program by taking one or more courses at C.W. Post Campus or the Brooklyn Campus during their four year program.

Global College embodies the vision of Dr. Morris Mitchell, its first president, who believed that students who were given the opportunity to learn firsthand about the problems and possibilities of humanity, and were encouraged to develop problem-solving skills, would become a unique resource for global peace and development. This vision is very much alive at Global College centers in China, Costa Rica, India, Japan, the United States and in our Comparative Religion and Culture program.