A public university has a special obligation to support outreach functions. Currently, CAAS staff and faculty host four main types of outreach activities. Reading Groups CAAS Librarian and Information Specialist, Elizabeth James, organizes reading groups open to members of the University and the local community.
Meetings take place monthly.
In cooperation with other foreign area centers, CAAS holds an annual Saturday workshop for middle school teachers and high school teachers. Elementary school and community college instructors have also found the workshops useful. The Africa seminar featured interactive sessions on curriculum plans and briefings on the political and economic challenges facing Africa. Brent Chrite, Managing Director of the William Davidson Institute and Director of the African Business Development Corps, examined the opportunities and challenges for business enterprises in South Africa and neighboring countries. Political Science Professor Jennifer Widner explained current political trends in Africa, especially the background to civil war in Central Africa and the growth of democratic institutions elsewhere on the continent.