In the second decade of the 21st century, women college graduates are still paid  less, on average, than their male peers, even when they have the same credentials and work in the same field.

That may be the biggest reason that the Drexel-based Vision 2020 is now expanding onto college campuses, including Drexel’s, Carolyn Lynch said.

Lynch is program coordinator for Vision 2020, a national project created by the Institute for Women’s Health and Leadership at Drexel University College Of Medicine that aims to advance social and economic equality for women.

Until now, it’s done that through the work of National Delegates—women from all 50 states who serve as leaders in their professions and communities—as well as National Allies. But now its focus has turned to college campuses, as well, where it can reach the women who’ll head out into the professional world in a few years.

“We wanted to reach out to the next generation of leaders,” Lynch said.

The college chapters will be aimed at both undergraduate and graduate students interested in equality for women.

Among the resources those chapters could offer are pay negotiation workshops that could help women advocate for fair pay in their first jobs out of school. Other events might include networking opportunities, mentoring programs or self-defense classes.

 “We’re really open to what the interests are of the students themselves,” Lynch said.

One of Vision 2020’s first targets for a campus chapter is Drexel itself, and it will launch with an information session this week: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, in MacAlister Hall, rooms 2019 and 2020. Light food and drinks will be served, and anyone who’d like to attend should RSVP to vision2020@drexelmed.edu.

Any students interested in Vision 2020’s goals are welcome to come.