When the Unexpected Hits, We Help You Respond with Clarity, Credibility, and Control.
In higher education, a crisis can emerge overnight, or build quietly over time. Whether it’s a campus incident, leadership transition, reputational threat, or policy backlash, how you communicate in the moment can have lasting consequences.
At Frankel, we help colleges and universities navigate high-stakes situations with confidence. We bring calm to chaos, strategy to uncertainty, and clear communication to even the most complex scenarios.
- Campus Incidents (violence, protests, accidents, public safety)
- Leadership Transitions or Scandals
- Title IX or DEI Controversies
- Program Cuts, Layoffs, or Budget Reductions
- Lawsuits or Investigations
- Social Media Firestorms
- Reputational Attacks or Misinformation
- Community, Donor, or Alumni Backlash
Crisis Response Planning
We help you prepare before a crisis happens: identifying vulnerabilities, developing internal protocols, and building a response playbook that equips your team to act quickly and consistently.
Real-Time Communications Support
When a situation unfolds, we’re on call to help you respond with speed and confidence. We work with your leadership, legal, and communications teams to craft statements, guide timing, and manage message alignment across channels.
Stakeholder Messaging
We tailor communications for every audience—students, faculty, staff, families, alumni, board members, media, and the public—ensuring that every message is accurate, aligned, and strategically delivered.
Media and Reputation Management
We help manage public narratives and media relations throughout the crisis. That includes press strategy, holding statements, interview preparation, and monitoring media or social sentiment in real time.
Recovery and Rebuilding
Crisis doesn’t end with the news cycle. We support your institution in rebuilding trust, reinforcing values, and restoring your long-term reputation.
- Discreet and Strategic: We operate behind the scenes with professionalism and care, protecting your institution and its people at every step.
- Higher Ed Experience: We understand the unique sensitivities, politics, and pressures of communicating within a university environment.
- Fast, Focused, and Level-Headed: We bring urgency without panic. You get calm, senior-level counsel when it matters most.
- Long-Term Focus: Our goal is not just to get you through today, it’s to ensure your institution emerges stronger for tomorrow.
The best time to build a crisis plan is before it’s tested. Whether you’re facing a moment of urgency or planning ahead, we’re here to support you.
