California University of Pennsylvania — now operating as PennWest California, a campus of PennWest University — is a regional public university in southwestern Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh, founded in 1852 as Pennsylvania's first state normal school. Known informally as "Cal U," the campus is home to the Vulcans (named for the nearby steel industry heritage) and offers strong programs in education, criminal justice, exercise science, and computer science. The university joined PennWest University in 2022 alongside Clarion and Edinboro. Cal U competes in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conferen…