The purpose of this study is to examine whether university leaders employed effective and appropriate crisis communication strategies via internal communication channels and systems with university faculty, staff, and students in Southern California during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 crisis. This study reviews (from the perspectives of university faculty, staff, and students) whether the crisis communications from their respective universities met their needs in informational and emotional effectiveness. A theoretical framework and a thematic literature review of contemporary authors and their corresponding empirical evidence explores the gap between crisis communication messages and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of various Southern California universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. All 6 theories were used to understand the effectiveness of the communication patterns in Southern California universities during the pandemic. Furthermore, using a phenomenological approach, the researcher interviewed 10 participants from 5 Southern California universities. Five themes emerged from the findings that provided contextual observations of how socially responsible crisis communication affected the lived experiences of different stakeholders (faculty, staff, and students) at the university level during the pandemic. Researchers, education policy makers, and higher educational institutions will find this study valuable in implementation of appropriate communication protocols in future global emergencies. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]