Open AccessEvolving Best Practices in Crisis Communication: Examining U.S. Higher Education’s Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
Brooke Liu,
JungKyu Rhys Lim,
Duli Shi,
America L. Edwards,
Khairul Islam,
Ronisha Sheppard,
Matthew W. Seeger
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of international crisis and risk communication research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2576-0025
pISSN - 2576-0017
DOI - 10.30658/jicrcr.4.3.1
Subject(s) - best practice , pandemic , covid-19 , crisis communication , globe , public relations , face (sociological concept) , political science , higher education , crisis management , new normal , economic growth , sociology , psychology , social science , medicine , economics , law , virology , disease , pathology , neuroscience , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The COVID-19 pandemic started in January 2020 and has rapidly spread around the globe. Among the institutions at the forefront of responding to COVID-19 are U.S. colleges and universities. These institutions frequently face crises, but they have not always managed these episodes successfully. Given the gravity of the pandemic, best practices research can help higher education institutions combat public health crises and other threats. This study examines and assesses the crisis communication of U.S. colleges and universities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic using the best practices framework. Findings indicate that higher education institutions have employed communication consistent with best practices, with some important modifications. Findings also answer calls to contextualize crisis communication best practices within specific organizational contexts and as a values-based framework.