There is not an organization in the world immune to crisis (Coombs, 2015). From for-profit corporations to the non-profit sector of higher education, research on various crises, and the communication surrounding them, has attracted the attention of scholars and practitioners over the years. This study contributes to literature surrounding organizational image and reputation; trust; and crisis management, specifically as they influence internal stakeholder perceptions of the crisis management efforts of American colleges and universities. This study explored perceptions of internal stakeholder trust in their educational institution to effectively manage crises. A variety of crisis types, and a variety of crisis management tactics used to address these types, were identified. This study concluded that among college and university internal stakeholders, students reported more trust than faculty and staff in their educational institution to effectively manage crisis. Findings related to campus residency, class year, school location, and primary mode of study also elicited significant results when considering internal stakeholder trust in the realm of crisis management. Finally, a relationship between internal stakeholders' perception of their school's reputation and their level of trustworthiness was also discovered. These findings contribute to various areas of organizational communication scholarship, as well as make a contribution to the understanding and application of crisis management preparation and response at colleges and universities. [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.]