STEPS Spotlight: Marty Crabbs

STEPS Spotlight: Marty Crabbs

What's your Madison College/STEPS job title?
Director of Process and Operations for Learner Development. Within STEPS, I am the business owner representing the Learner Development teams.

What goes into an “average day” for you? My role is to work to improve unit processes within Learner Development, coordinate projects and improvements that affect some or all units in Learner Development, and represent our area in college-wide initiatives. It is the latter part of my role that allowed me the opportunity to be involved in STEPS.

My average day involves some routine operations such as Behavior Intervention Team report response, budget monitoring and communications interspersed through work on several projects. Right now Learner Development units are working to implement the new student health service, provide orientation sessions, forming our new Student Achievement Center and many other projects. If it ever gets too much, I just reach for my Darth Vader stress ball!! (Pictured with Marty in the photo.)

What's your background?  
I have been employed at the college for nearly 15.5 years, most of those working at our Downtown Education Center. I am originally from west central Iowa where I grew up on a farm. I moved to Madison to enroll in graduate studies at the university. Soon thereafter, I landed a position at our college and have been proud to be here ever since.

Give an example of how the upgrade will benefit staff members/faculty:
I am really excited about what staff and faculty can expect from the upgrade. Several of the projects will address “pain points” in many processes. The non-program intake process for example saved time for both staff and students, eliminating phone calls or trips to campus for “new students” who wanted to sign up for classes. The upgrade project will also provide many more opportunities for staff and faculty to share information with students via self-service functionality - saving time, resources and paper by offering all information at the literal click of a button.

Give an example of how students will benefit from the upgrade:
The upgrade is living up to what we imagined it could be nearly a year ago. The new benefits for the student advising report will be phenomenal, giving students a much clearer picture of where they are in meeting their educational goals and how to make it the rest of the way. If you have ever used the current degree audit, you must have the secret code book that explains how it is works. The new advising report (no longer called degree audit) will summarize the information using much clearer organization and provide text along with all the number codes. It will more clearly articulate what requisites a student has met and what is outstanding for degree completion. Combined with the academic planner or backpack, this functionality will make plotting one’s academic plan at Madison College a much more clear and lively experience.

What's the best part of your job? 
I really enjoy the technique of figuring out how processes work and then working to make them better, faster and more efficient. I realize this type of work may not strike everyone as gripping or engaging, but actually seeing a change going into production is very exciting for me. It is great to work with dedicated teams of professionals with great vision and drive to make things happen.

What are some of the greatest challenges you face? 
While I am fortunate to work with great people, perhaps my biggest challenge is to find the time to work on so many great ideas. Collecting, documenting, drafting and developing even the simplest concept takes a lot of time and effort as we are a complex and integrated system. “Pull one strand, and the sweater may unravel,” so we need to take the time to fully explore how the great ideas can become transformative realities.

What have been some of the best (STEPS related) moments?
I must say my most enjoyable moment so far with STEPS has probably been the mid-year celebration that occurred last December. Although my vocal ability did them no credit, the modified lyrics to our favorite Christmas carols still flow across my mind occasionally, especially the 10th Day of Upgrade.

What do you like best about Madison College?
Madison College is truly a unique institution in my eyes. It is large enough to make a difference in so many lives yet small enough to provide individual care and attention. What we are able to do for our students is what makes me the proudest to work here.

What are some of your interests/hobby’s outside of work?
Outside of work, my wife and I live in Oregon. Although we have no children, our pair of cats seem to require as much attention. My hobby is nearly as old as I am as I started collecting Star Wars figures in 1977. Yes, “The Force is strong with me…” or at least strong enough to fill up my basement. I know all the characters, planets and ships, but have yet to dress up as Darth Vader…at least whilst on duty!

Thank you Marty! Our Jedi of Madison College!