Troy Swanson
troy-a-swanson.bsky.social
Troy Swanson
@troy-a-swanson.bsky.social
Legislative Chair, Cook County College Teachers Union; Librarian at Moraine Valley CC.
Reposted by Troy Swanson
In this new episode, guest host @troy-a-swanson.bsky.social chats with @bradleydeanc.bsky.social about his experience at the U.S. Department of Education, the impact of recent mass firings, and what these changes mean for students, educators, and the future of American education.
November 24, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Reposted by Troy Swanson
My reflections on the illegal destruction of the U.S. Department of Education for @circulatingideas.bsky.social. It’s not too late to fix this! #highered #academicsky
November 24, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I was honored to interview Bradley Dean for the Circulating Ideas podcast. Bradley really did a fantastic job in this interview. @circulatingideas.bsky.social

circulatingideas.com/2025/11/24/3...
301: Federal Education Policy, with Dr. Bradley Custer
Guest host Troy Swanson chats with Dr. Bradley Custer, higher education expert, about his experience at the U.S. Department of Education, the impact of recent mass firings, and what these changes m…
circulatingideas.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Not really sure what to make of this government shutdown? This discussion from our MVCC faculty was fantastic. It is worth the time.
Congrats to Kevin & Merri on this great talk.

www.youtube.com/live/gPgX_sv...
Why did the government shutdown and why does it matter?
YouTube video by Moraine Valley Community College Library
www.youtube.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
We were excited to welcome The Workers’ Center for Racial Justice to campus today. Check out their amazing talk here: www.youtube.com/live/cf-BcPJ...
Their discussion of supporting formerly incarcerated individuals & organizing for policy reform was excellent.
@c4racialjustice.bsky.social
Using Our Power to Change Our Communities: A discussion led by the Workers Center for Racial Justice
YouTube video by Moraine Valley Community College Library
www.youtube.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Nice event for Speaker Welch tonight
September 19, 2025 at 4:13 AM
I was excited to interview Nicole Cooke on her new collection of essays on black women in librarianship. This is on the Circulating Ideas podcast. @circulatingideas.bsky.social

circulatingideas.com/2025/09/02/2...
296: The Legacy of Black Women in Librarianship: When They Dared to Be Powerful by Nicole A. Cooke
Guest host Troy Swanson chats with Nicole A. Cooke, editor of The Legacy of Black Women in Librarianship: When They Dared to Be Powerful, about the history, impact, and ongoing contributions of Bla…
circulatingideas.com
September 11, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Organized labor marched today in honor of Labor Day and to push back on the Trump agenda. Today, trade unions, k12 unions, higher ed unions, & government employee unions came together.
September 1, 2025 at 10:56 PM
It was a nice day to be on the veranda at McCormick Place overlooking Lake Michigan for the Chicago Federation Of Labor’s Labor Day Luncheon. Normally this event is insufferably hot & humid but today was beautiful.
Great to connect with union allies & legislative partners.
August 28, 2025 at 12:57 AM
We are very excited that Governor Pritzker signed HB 3385 and the law requiring licensed mental health professionals on campuses. This was a legislative priority, and we are very much appreciative of our partners who helped make this happen!!
www.ccctu.org/post/governo...
Governor Signs HB 3385: Licensed Counselors Now Required on Illinois Campuses
On August 15 at 3 p.m., Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 3385 into law, a landmark piece of legislation that will take effect January 1, 2026. This new law requires that all Illinois institutions of hig...
www.ccctu.org
August 22, 2025 at 2:06 AM
We were proud to support many pro labor, pro public education, elected officials this week.
June 7, 2025 at 3:13 AM
With only a few hours left in the legislative session, HB 3385 passed the house. This was a Local 1600 initiative that requires higher education institutions to have licensed mental health professionals on campus to support students.
June 2, 2025 at 12:02 AM
HB 1859 has now passed the Senate and the house. It is awaiting the signature of a governor to become law!!

This ensures that only humans can award credit in community colleges. A first step in regulation of artificial intelligence in Illinois higher education!!
May 31, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I was honored to be interviewed on the AWF Union Podcast where I discussed SB 1693 which establishes an elected board of trustees for the City Colleges of Chicago (and why this bill is stalled). You can listen here:

awf.labortools.com/listen/ccctu...
CCCTU Legislative Chair on cuts to community colleges and Ill. SB 1693
The America’s Work Force Union Podcast is the nation’s premier daily labor program. Troy Swanson from CCCTU joined us on today’s show.
awf.labortools.com
May 29, 2025 at 10:47 PM
We continue to press forward on our legislation for an elected board of trustees for the City Colleges of Chicago. We have 70% of the IL Senate but our bill (SB1693) is not moving forward. Nice to see this article.

citizennewspapergroup.com/news/2025/ma...
The Citizen Newspaper Group
citizennewspapergroup.com
May 29, 2025 at 2:40 AM
May 11, 2025 at 4:13 AM
We should be clear about Trump’s higher ed budget: these cuts are not about making education more affordable. They make it more exclusive, more privatized, & more out of reach for the people who need it most. It’s a direct assault on the promise of public education.
May 3, 2025 at 6:46 PM
May Day march today. Unions, community groups & regular folks took to the streets to protest the Trump administration. It was a great day with 15,000+ marchers. #mayday2025
May 2, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Last night we held a policy briefing on SB 1693 which establishes an elected board of trustees for the City Colleges of Chicago. You can watch the presentation here (18 minutes). youtu.be/nVNRGu47YMA
Elected Board for The City Colleges of Chicago (SB 1693): A Policy Briefing for Elected Officials
YouTube video by Cook County College Teachers Union
youtu.be
April 24, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Today, HB 1598 passed the House of Representatives. We have worked hard on this bill which mandates licensed clinical counselors on college campuses. Thanks to Rep. Norma Hernandez for her leadership on this.

Now, on to the Senate!!
April 11, 2025 at 3:08 AM
HB 1859 passed the House! This bill requires credit in community colleges to only be awarded by humans (not AI). Thx to Rep Rashid for his leadership!

www.ccctu.org/post/protect...
Protecting the Integrity of Community College Education: HB 1859 Passes Illinois House
On April 7th, House Bill 1859 passed the Illinois House of Representatives with a decisive bipartisan vote of 87 in favor. The bill, championed by Representative Abdelnasser Rashid (D-21st), co-chair ...
www.ccctu.org
April 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I was excited to be part of an excellent panel discussion this week on the state of the media ecosystem.

www.youtube.com/live/SWHjn60...
How the media ecosystem is changing and the impact on politics and society
YouTube video by Moraine Valley Community College Library
www.youtube.com
April 4, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Western Illinois University cannot call itself a research institution as it cuts its librarians. It is failing its faculty and its students. It is heartbreaking to see such dedicated professionals being cut with no regard for the role they play within their institution.
March 26, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Rep Hernandez, Shanya Gray & Tony Johnston did a great job testifying in the Illinois House Higher Ed committee today in support of HB 3385 supporting licensed counselors on our campuses.
March 20, 2025 at 4:56 AM