Communicating COVID‑19: analyzing higher education institutional responses in Canada, China, and the USA

O'Shea, M., Mou, L. , Xu, L. and Aikins, R. (2022) Communicating COVID‑19: analyzing higher education institutional responses in Canada, China, and the USA. Higher Education Policy, 35(3), pp. 629-650. (doi: 10.1057/s41307-022-00276-y) (PMID:35765672) (PMCID:PMC9226285)

Abstract

The study aims to examine how higher education institutions (HEIs) in three countries responded to the challenges of COVID-19 over a six-month period at the outbreak of the global pandemic. Employing document analysis, we examined 732 publicly available communications from 27 HEIs in Canada, China, and the USA. Through theoretical frameworks of crisis management and Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT), we explore how HEIs respond to the pandemic and protect campus stakeholders. The study revealed common patterns in communication strategies during different stages of the pandemic that include accepting responsibility, emotional reassurance, and compensating victims. It also revealed key differences across social contexts and environments and distinct leadership styles. Findings offer insight into how HEIs communicated at the outset of the COVID19 pandemic and inform the application of SCCT and crisis management theory to institutional behavior in the context of prolonged and intersecting disasters.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mou, Dr Leping
• Authors: O'Shea, M., Mou, L., Xu, L., and Aikins, R.
• Subjects: L Education > L Education (General)
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: Higher Education Policy
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• ISSN: 0952-8733
• ISSN (Online): 1740-3863
• Published Online: 24 June 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 International Association of Universities
• First Published: First published in Higher Education Policy 35(3):629-650
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher