This research examines emergency health communication with college students during the early phase of the 2019 coronavirus pandemic to provide better insights for emergency planning and to ensure success in early-stage communication efforts. Trust and confidence in various spokespersons are tested, along with students? levels of cooperation with nationwide and college-level directives. To fill a gap in the current emergency preparedness literature, this research also focuses on the communication needs and cultural perspectives of international students on American college campuses. Based on the Trust, Confidence and Cooperation (TCC) Model and its ability to predict cooperation with health directives, this study tested and further defined the aspects of trust and confidence in contributing to public cooperation during a health emergency - in this case, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. The study also evaluated whether the TCC Model could be applied to foreign residents, such as international students, during such an emergency. While better understanding the path to cooperation for international students, the lessons learned can be applied to both college and immigrant populations nationwide. Problematic operationalizations within the TCC Model are clarified and tested in hopes of better defining the variables involved in the model, and new variables, such as cultural competence, are tested for fit. [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.]