Objective: Focusing on “perceptual unrest” in universities, this research presents a policy framework that moves university management from a reactive to a proactive and resilient state. The main axes of the framework are cognitive resilience, dignity-centeredness, and narrative-centeredness.

Method: The research is of an applied-analytical type with a qualitative approach.

Findings: The findings showed that perceptual unrest in universities is the result of the simultaneous occurrence of three failures: cognitive failure (inability to analyze information and cognitive exhaustion), dignity failure (procedural injustice and experience of disrespect), and narrative failure (meaninglessness and delay in valid explanation). Accordingly, a three-axis framework was formulated at both national and university levels, and a phased intervention package (0–72 hours, 3–14 days, 15–90 days) was proposed for response and repair.

Conclusion: University administration in the era of perceptual unrest without the synergy of the three axes of cognition, dignity, and narrative is limited to sectional and costly controls. Implementing the proposed framework can maintain trust capital, reduce the intensity of conflict, and rebuild the capacity of academic dialogue.