Pennsylvania Western University

California University of Pennsylvania traces its roots back to 1852, when the community of California spent tax money and donations to create an academy for kindergarten through college-level courses. In 1864, it purchased 10 acres (4.0 ha) and moved to what is now the center of its present location, and a year later the school received a charter to be a normal school. In 1874, the institution was renamed SouthWestern Normal School and in 1914 Pennsylvania bought the school, renaming it the California State Normal School and converted it into a two-year institute for training of elementary school teachers. In 1928 the school restored a full four-year curriculum and was renamed the California State Teachers College. The programs offered were expanded over time and broadened beyond teacher training, and by 1959 the school's name was condensed to California State College. In 1962, the school added a graduate program. The school became a part of the State System of Higher Education on July 1, 1983. At the same time, it was granted university status under its current name, California University of Pennsylvania. [4]

Clarion University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1867 in northwestern Pennsylvania to serve the needs of that rural part of the state. It started as a Seminary and became a 'Normal School' in 1887 and a community college-level institution in 1920. Clarion became a college in 1929. In 1948, Clarion was accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.[5] The college would expand in 1960, when Dr. James Gemmell became the president of the institution. Before Dr. Gemmell became president, there was 1,100 students and 10 buildings, and by the time he left there was 5,000 students and 25 buildings completed, under construction, or on the drawing boards.[6]

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania was founded as the Edinboro Academy, a private training school for Pennsylvania teachers in 1857, by the region's original Scottish settlers. It is the oldest training institution west of the Allegheny Mountains and the second oldest in all of Pennsylvania. In the beginning, Edinboro modestly consisted of one two-story building, six classrooms, three instructors, 110 students and a principal. That original building, Academy Hall, is currently used as the undergraduate admissions office. In 1861, the Edinboro Academy affiliated with the state government of Pennsylvania to become the second State Normal School in Pennsylvania, occasionally known as the Northwest State Normal School. (Normal schools are teachers colleges.) In 1914, the state purchased the school from the original stockholders and renamed it the Edinboro State Normal School. By 1927, the advancement of academic programs to include liberal arts study required the school to rename itself Edinboro State Teachers College. Further development of the liberal arts to include degree programs outside the field of education resulted in Edinboro becoming Edinboro State College in 1960. Continued development of undergraduate liberal arts programs and advanced graduate degrees earned Edinboro university status in 1983.[7]

In July 2021, PennWest was officially created by the merger of these three institutions. On October 14, 2021, the state officially adopted the new name of the combined universities: Pennsylvania Western University. This merger would also combine the school's colors, creating new versions of California University's red, Edinboro University's blue, and Clarion University's gold.