Crisis situations are among the most complex challenges faced within higher education, particularly in residential communities where students live, learn, and navigate personal challenges away from their families and familiar support systems. For first-year students living in residence halls, these experiences can be especially significant as they adjust to college life and learn how to seek and accept support during moments of crisis. Although students may recognize the need for help, seeking assistance does not always mean they are willing to accept the response that follows.

Some students refuse emergency medical services (EMS) transport even when their condition warrants additional medical attention. Others prevent the University Police Department (UPD) or emergency responders from approaching them in their residence halls, while some hesitate to report medical or mental health concerns because of fear, stigma, or concerns about how they may be perceived. For some students, simply seeing UPD or other emergency responders can increase their anxiety and make them less willing to engage with the response process. These situations raise important questions about how students experience campus crisis response and what influences their willingness to accept help.

This research explores why students in crisis situations refuse emergency medical services (EMS) transport in higher education settings. The session will discuss how students seek help during crises and how they want to be approached and supported by EMS and campus response systems. It also considers emotional, social, and institutional factors such as stigma, autonomy, and trust within residential communities and campus crisis response environments.