As social organizations with high population density，universities hold unique governance value in public health emergency response mechanisms. Through qualitative research methodology and NVivo 15，this study systematically analyzes the epidemic prevention and control notification documents issued by 17 universities operated directly under the Ministry of Education in the Yangtze River Delta region. Findings reveal four major deficiencies in the formal legitimacy of university emergency regulations，including structural imbalance in legal foundation，unilateral decision - making procedures，inadequate formal requirements，and imbalanced distribution of power and responsibilities. At the substantive legitimacy level，three value conflicts emerge，including a disconnection between the legitimacy of prevention objectives and the rationality of implemented measures，the absence of protective legal provisions，and instrumental rationality expansion in the institutional ethical dimension. To address these issues， this study recommends improving normative foundations，strengthening procedural justice，and balancing value orientations to enhance the legitimacy of public health emergency prevention policies in universities，raising the level of rule - of - law in university emergency management.