The 2007-2008 Campus Action Project provided a platform to raise awareness of an important issue young women face as they transition from undergraduate studies to first careers and graduate school — the inequity in pay between women and men in the workplace.

Seven teams from around the country were selected to implement projects based on recommendations from the AAUW Educational Foundation research report Behind the Pay Gap that was released in spring 2007. The selected projects focused on promoting careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among women and girls; encouraging women to negotiate for better quality jobs and pay; and raising awareness of the gender pay gap with the goal of ending gender discrimination.

Alfred University, Alfred, NY
Dreams to Reality
Alfred University (AU) CAP team created a student-produced and directed documentary highlighting the financial hopes, dreams, and realities of AU alumni one and 10 years after graduation, to draw parallels to AAUW Educational Foundation research Behind the Pay Gap. The CAP team surveyed 186 alumni and used the qualitative and quantitative data in their documentary as well as camera interviews with fifteen AU students and five alumni. The CAP team showed the documentary a few times on campus, including at a premiere attended by over fifty people. In addition to the documentary, the AU CAP team conducted several events on campus to raise awareness about the pay gap. Notably, Dr. Evelyn Murphy, president of the WAGE Project, Inc., spoke on campus and held a Start Smart negotiations workshop for students.

Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
Negotiating Cents for Women
The CAP team at Bucknell University (BU) held several events to promote women in STEM and to raise awareness on campus about equal pay. Their largest event was a “Girls Play Fair” conference for girls aged 9-12 and their parents/guardians. A speaker opened the event with a presentation on the history of women in science and technology and then the 35 participating girls rotated through five stations, where several female university STEM majors led the girls through an activity related to their major. Activities included making ice cream with liquid nitrogen at the chemistry station; mimicking computer programming at the computer science station; experimenting with the different lubricants at the mechanical engineering station; applying basic genetics to create candy “creatures” at the biology station; and making circuits to perform various functions, such as ringing bells, at the electrical engineering station. At each station, students received a certain number of chocolate coins. After a brief tutorial on wage negotiation, they used these coins to negotiate for science-related prizes.

Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
Negotiations U
The project by Clarkson University's CAP team was designed to empower women students to learn and use evidence-based negotiations strategies and techniques in professional and work situations and to provide a safe space for women to learn to participate actively in negotiations. The CAP team identified a group of 10-15 women student leaders who researched, developed, and delivered salary negotiations training to their peers on campus. The project culminated with a negotiations contest where students who participated in the training sessions were able to use the skills and concepts taught in the trainings to compete for prizes.

Dakota State University, Madison, SD
Careers for Women in Science and Technology
The Women in Science and Technology program at Dakota State University used their CAP grant to mentor and help retain women students in traditionally male dominated science and technology fields. Through a series of job preparation sessions, including interview role playing, students gained interviewing skills to help them successfully compete for jobs. Students took field trips to visit various facilities and laboratories within the state to learn about potential places of employment. Through a speaker series, students had the chance to interact with women scientists in the region and learn what skills are necessary to be successful in the science fields. The events all provided networking opportunities for the students with professionals in their field.

Purdue University- Calumet, Hammond, IN
Podcast Mentoring for Wage Equity and Women’s Economic Empowerment in northwest Indiana
The Purdue University-Calumet (PUC) CAP team produced a series of mentoring podcasts on the gender wage gap and remedies women can use to increase their earnings. The podcasts include instructional content on the causes and consequences of the wage gap and motivational narratives by successful professional women, especially Latinas. The podcasts are free to PUC students and the public on the university website. The podcasts address the direct need of PUC students, many of whom juggle classes with parenting and work responsibilities and cannot participate in traditional mentoring programs on campus. Additionally, the project places special emphasis on engaging and supporting Latinas who, on average, earn the lowest wages in northwest Indiana, and are highly concentrated in the PUC region.

Rogue Community College- Riverside, Medford, OR
Education and Pay Equity Conference
The Rogue Community College (RCC) CAP team sponsored an Equal Pay Day and Beyond Conference for high school and college students called C.S.I.: Careers, Salary, Inspiration. Students interested in majors and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math were particularly targeted to attend. The conference included a keynote speaker who offered strategies for success in career and education planning, a presentation by the Medford Police Department Forensics division, and a series of workshops on topics like science exploration, fun with electronics, and career exploration. The conference was attended by about 150 people. The RCC CAP team also created a companion website: http://www.roguecc.edu/csi/ with pay gap information.

University of Alaska- Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK
Behind the Pay Gap: The Now You Know Campaign
The objectives of this project were to raise awareness of the gender pay gap, teach students practical skills in negotiation strategies, and initiate commemoration of Equal Pay Day at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The public service campaign featured vignettes developed and performed by the Now You Know Players student performance group that highlight issues related to the gender pay gap and demonstrate how to negotiate for salary, benefits, and other job conditions. The performances will be supported by a wider media campaign designed to educate the campus and raise awareness of the pay gap. The CAP team developed a salary negotiation brochure with useful tips for students preparing for job interviews.

 

Questions? Call 202/785-7719 or send an e-mail to cap@aauw.org.