Nearly all of Iowa State's downed or removed trees end up back on campus. Most of them return as mulch, but a select few are processed through the TreeCycle program, which preserves high-quality specimens for furniture and other items.

                                                   

As college costs continue to soar, an alternative to traditional textbooks may help determine whether a student enrolls in, completes or drops a class.

Some Iowa State employees may qualify for student loan forgiveness through the federal government's Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. There are details to work through, but it may be worth it.

The state Board of Regents will interview Iowa State's presidential finalists Monday, Oct. 23, and is expected to select the university's next leader by end of day. ISU's 16th president will be introduced in the Memorial Union Campanile Room, with video of the event livestreamed on both the board and search websites; anticipated start time is after 5 p.m.

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate in a campus climate survey that evaluates perceptions of living, learning and working at Iowa State. Responses are confidential, and results will be used to address areas of concern and improve the Iowa State experience. The online survey takes 20-30 minutes and must be completed in one sitting. Participants can enter to win one of 10 $50 gift cards. The survey closes Oct. 31.

The concept of collective intelligence is simple -- it asserts that if a team performs well on one task, it will repeat that success on other projects, regardless of the scope or focus of the work. While it sounds good in theory, it doesn't work that way in reality, according to assistant professor of psychology Marcus Credé.

Over the next year, an Iowa State research team will study eight shrinking but thriving small Iowa communities, looking to identify how they've continued to prosper. The hope is to identify strategies for protecting the quality of life in depopulating rural areas.

• Jackie Rees Ulmer, Union Pacific Professor of Management Information Systems and supply chain and information systems department chair, to associate dean of undergraduate programs in the College of Business, effective Nov. 1

• Grand opening, Water-wise Hillside Garden, Reiman Gardens, Oct. 19 (4:30 p.m. ribbon cutting, tour follows)
• Open house: Ames airport new terminal, Oct. 21 (9-11 a.m., ribbon cutting and program at 9:30 a.m., 2520 Airport Rd.)

• Reception: "2017 Studies in Creativity" juried exhibit of student artwork, Oct. 24 (6 p.m., MU Gallery)
• Open house, "Make Waves," National Campus Sustainability Day, Oct. 26 (11 a.m.-2 p.m., library south lawn)
• Retirement: Teddi Barron, university relations, Oct. 26 (3-5 p.m., program at 4 p.m., 201 Kingland Building, 2420 Lincoln Way)
• Retirement: Kevin Maher, McNay Research Farm, Chariton, Oct. 27 (noon-3 p.m., at the farm, 45249 170 Ave., Chariton)

• Retirement: Al Brooks, procurement services, Oct. 31 (2-4 p.m., program at 3 p.m., MU Campanile Room)
• Retirement: Sue Mallas, facilities services, facilities planning and management, Nov. 3  (1:30-3 p.m., program at 2 p.m., 0162 General Services Building)

Reiman Gardens' annual Spirits in the Gardens family-friendly weekend, Oct. 21-22, will again feature an after hours jack-o'-lantern walk, lit by 650 carved pumpkins. Costumes are encouraged, with activities and trick-or-treating from 4 to 7 p.m. both days, followed by the lighted walk from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Fans of the 1987 "Dirty Dancing" movie are sure to enjoy a live rendition of Baby and Johnny's story at Stephens Auditorium Oct. 21 (7:30 p.m.). Tickets, $25-$78, are available at the Iowa State Center ticket office and through Ticketmaster.

The "Sound the CYren" celebration opens Oct. 20 with an evening dance on the Memorial Union terrace and features public events over the next seven days. The Homecoming parade is Sunday afternoon (2 p.m.) in downtown Ames. Check out the schedule of events.

Green Umbrella and Live Green will host an awareness event on Oct. 26 (11 a.m.-2 p.m., Parks Library south lawn) to celebrate National Campus Sustainability Day. Campus and community groups will highlight their initiatives and products. Free bike and longboard tune-ups will be available. There is no cost to attend, but all are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item for the student food pantry, SHOP.