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Campus Alert Archive
Hampton

Evacuate Immediately: Hampton University Shuts Down Entire Campus for Two Days After Coordinated HBCU Threats

VAthreat of violenceemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed HoaxDetermined to be a hoax. The institutional response is documented because it reveals how the alert system performed under a perceived real threat.

On September 11, 2025, Hampton University received a potential threat and ceased all non-essential activity, ordering all non-essential personnel to evacuate and canceling classes for two days. Hampton was one of at least seven HBCUs locked down simultaneously across the country. The FBI later determined the threats were a hoax.

Alerts
3
Response
Killed
Injured
Institution
Hampton University
Hbcu · VA
~4,000 studentsPirate Notification System (PNS)
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTofficial-statement
Hampton University has received notice of a potential threat and has ceased all non-essential activity, effective immediately. The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors remain our highest priority. All campus activities and classes are canceled on Thursday, September 11 and Friday, September 12, to include all athletic events and activities. The campus community is encouraged to conduct any meetings remotely. All students who are on campus are encouraged to minimize their movement across campus except for essential activities. Students residing off-campus should not come to campus at this time. All non-essential personnel, including faculty and staff, should evacuate campus immediately. Enhanced security measures are now in effect across campus. It is imperative that all members of the Hampton University community remain vigilant. Anyone with information or concerns should immediately contact Hampton University Police at 757-727-5300. Stay tuned to the University's website, social media, and other official channels for pertinent information. After meeting with local officials and state and local law enforcement professionals, we will provide updates by close of business today.
Verbatim text from Hampton University's official statement, published to the university website and shared via the official @_HamptonU X account on September 11, 2025
The evacuation order for all non-essential personnel was significantly more aggressive than other targeted HBCUs that issued only shelter-in-place orders that day
Hampton was among multiple HBCUs including Virginia State University, Southern University, Alabama State, Clark Atlanta, Bethune-Cookman, and Spelman College that received threats simultaneously
UPDATEEmail
Approximate reconstruction294 chars
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY UPDATE: The FBI has determined there is no credible threat to Hampton University. The threat, along with others received by HBCUs around the country, has been classified as a hoax. Enhanced security measures remain in place. The campus will begin a phased reopening tomorrow.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from local TV news reporting on the FBI's hoax determination
Despite the FBI's determination, Hampton maintained enhanced security measures and did not immediately resume full operations
The phased reopening approach was unique among the targeted HBCUs, reflecting the university's cautious approach
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction296 chars
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY UPDATE: Phase I of campus reopening begins today. Off-campus students may return to campus. Classes remain canceled for Friday. Increased security measures are in place across campus. Phase II with normal operations resumes Monday, September 15. We thank you for your patience.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from local news coverage of Hampton's phased reopening plan
Hampton's two-phase approach was notably more cautious than some other targeted HBCUs that resumed operations more quickly
The extended closure affected students during the early weeks of the fall semester
Context

Background

On September 11, 2025, Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia ceased all non-essential activity after receiving a potential threat, ordering the evacuation of all non-essential personnel and canceling classes and athletic events for two days. Hampton was one of at least seven HBCUs across five states that received threats simultaneously, including Virginia State University, Southern University, Alabama State University, Clark Atlanta University, Bethune-Cookman University, and Spelman College. The FBI determined the threats were a hoax within hours, stating it had 'no information to indicate a credible threat.' Hampton reopened in two phases: off-campus students could return on Friday, and full normal operations resumed on Monday, September 15. The coordinated threats against multiple HBCUs on the same day were reminiscent of the wave of bomb threats that targeted dozens of HBCUs in early 2022, raising concerns about the persistent targeting of historically Black institutions.
Analysis

Key Findings

Hampton's response was among the most aggressive of the targeted HBCUs, ordering full evacuation of non-essential personnel rather than just shelter-in-place
The university implemented a two-phase reopening plan even after the FBI's hoax determination, reflecting institutional caution
The September 2025 threats marked the second major wave of coordinated threats against HBCUs in three years, following the 2022 bomb threat wave
Outcome
The FBI determined there was no credible threat to the university. Hampton reopened in two phases: partial reopening with off-campus students returning on Friday, September 12, and full normal operations on Monday, September 15.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
  2. News
  3. News
  4. News
Tags
hbcuthreat-of-violencecoordinated-threatsfbi-hoax-determinationvirginiacampus-closureevacuationphased-reopeningseptember-2025-hbcu-waveHoax
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion