When the spring semester begins next week, California University of Pennsylvania students will return to a fully “wireless” campus.

Cal U, in collaboration with AT&T, has completed a six-month project that provides high-speed Wi-Fi throughout its campus community. 

Students, faculty, staff and Cal U visitors with Wi-Fi enabled devices will have easy access to the Wi-Fi network throughout the University’s main and south campuses in California, Pa. Service also is available at Cal U’s Southpointe Center in Canonsburg, Pa.

The $2.1 million project added more than 900 Wi-Fi access points to Cal U’s previous wireless network, giving users increased capacity, broader coverage and faster service both indoors and outdoors.

Wireless is available in all Cal U academic buildings and residence halls, as well as in the Natali Student Union, Manderino Library, Convocation Center and all other facilities. Coverage extends to outdoor areas including the Quad, Roadman Park, Adamson football stadium, the Phillipsburg soccer complex and even the campus parking lots.

“The Wi-Fi project was driven by customer demand,” says Dr. Charles Mance, vice president for University Technology Services. Through a series of customer satisfaction surveys conducted by his office, students, faculty and staff expressed a need for enhanced connectivity.

The wireless network now has the capacity to serve Cal U’s 9,500 students and more than 900 employees, along with hundreds of campus visitors.

“More robust Wi-Fi provides easier access to information, both inside and outside the classroom,” Mance says. “Already we are seeing an increase in usage, with our client count rising from month to month. And our research tells us that the demand for wireless access will continue to rise.”

Members of the campus community will continue to use their Cal U username and password to gain easy access to broadband via the CalNet network. Visitors can join the “attwifi” network with a guest account.

University Technology Services will supply ongoing management and support for any troubleshooting and access assistance to the wireless networks on campus.

Prospective students and their families, vendors, Vulcan sports fans and University Conference Services clients are among those expected to utilize the guest network.

“Through the Cal U Fusion initiative, our University is emerging as a leader in the use of technology for teaching and learning,” said Cal U President Angelo Armenti, Jr. “Accessible Wi-Fi is an essential element of this effort to prepare our students to live and work in the digital age.”

GRADUATE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE RETURNS: The popular open house sponsored by the School of Graduate Studies will be repeated, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 7 in the Kara Alumni House on Cal U’s main campus. Dr. John Cencich, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, will give the keynote talk, "You Can Afford Graduate School.”

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A graduate degree may be the ticket to a better job, a bigger paycheck or a leadership position in your chosen field.

But can you afford to spend the time and money it takes to further your education?

California University will highlight its flexible, affordable master’s degree, certification and post-graduate certificate programs at an open house from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Cal U Southpointe Center in Canonsburg, Pa.

Keynote speaker Dr. Charles P. Nemeth, chair of the Professional Studies Department, will present “You Can Afford Graduate School.” His talk will explain how graduate assistantships, scholarships and financial aid can reduce the cost of earning an advanced degree.

Program directors will be on hand to discuss both Cal U’s traditional master’s degree programs and its Internet-based Global Online offerings, which permit students to complete their assignments online at anytime, from anywhere in the world.

Cal U offers more than 30 master’s degree programs in fields that include business administration, education, nursing, counseling, athletic training, sport management, legal studies, exercise science, psychology, social work, applied criminology, and STEM education.

Certificate programs provide specialized training in areas such as sports counseling, autism spectrum disorders, Arabic language and culture, and Spanish for law enforcement and business.

The Graduate School also offers teacher certification in a variety of disciplines, as well as principal’s certification or a superintendent letter of eligibility.

Additional Information

• Directions to Southpointe Center
• Directions to main campus 
• Accreditations
• Graduate programs
• Global Online

Cal U is ranked No. 4 in the nation for its commitment to helping military veterans pursue higher education.

Military Times EDGE magazine ranks Cal U behind only Concord (W.Va.), Eastern Kentucky and Rutgers (N.J.) universities in its second “Best Colleges for Vets” survey, a supplement to its November issue.

Cal U is the only school in the State System of Higher Education to be included in the 2011 “Best for Vets” list. The only other Pennsylvania school among the top 40 this year is the University of Pittsburgh, ranked No. 15. 

Last year Military Times EDGE ranked Cal U at No. 37, which placed it among the top 1 percent of the 4,000 schools surveyed.

The magazine annually ranks institutions based on programs, policies and resources for veterans. Input from student veterans helps to establish the criteria, which include financial assistance for veterans, academic accreditation, graduation rates and the presence of a central veterans office with a knowledgeable staff.

The rankings are published online at www.militarytimesEDGE.com.

“Our Cal U veterans take pride in all we do, whether here on campus or online,” says Capt. Robert Prah, director of the Office of Veterans Affairs.

“Being ranked No. 4 in the nation is an exceptional honor. It shows that Cal U is committed to helping students meet their educational goals and assisting veterans as they return to our campus.”

About 230 military veterans attend classes on Cal U’s campus in southwestern Pennsylvania. An additional 260 service members around the world are enrolled in Global Online, Cal U’s Internet-based learning community.

The University’s Office of Veterans Affairs provides military veterans and their families with assistance in many areas, including financial aid, academic advising, counseling and career guidance. An active Veterans Club offers information and opportunities for networking and community service.

California University has been honored previously for its service to veterans and military members:

• For three consecutive years, G.I. Jobs magazine has named Cal U one of the nation’s top Military Friendly Schools. The 2012 list honors just 20 percent of the 8,000 schools surveyed for their academic accreditations and their efforts to recruit and retain military and veteran students.
• Since January 2009, Cal U has been among an elite group of colleges and universities designated as “eArmyU schools” — preferred providers of online education for soldiers through the GoArmyEd portal. A gateway to higher education for soldiers stationed anywhere in the world, GoArmyEd.com gives service members easy access to programs offered through Global Online.