At least seven HBCUs are currently in lockdown on Thursday morning after receiving threats to their campuses. Alabama State, Hampton, Clark Atlanta, Southern, Bethune-Cookman, and Virginia State Universities all shared statements confirming that they are under lockdown until further notice while law enforcement investigates the nature of the threats. Spellman College went on lockdown out of an abundance of caution over the threats at other colleges.
At 8:30 a.m. ET, Virginia State issued an “urgent alert” to students and faculty, closing the campus over a “potential threat.” In a 1 p.m. Instagram post, VSU confirmed that it had “received a threat” and that “out of an abundance of caution, VSU remains on lockdown.”
In an earlier update, the university informed that no injuries or incidents had occurred because of the threat. “VSU Police, in coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, is actively investigating the credibility of the threat received earlier today,” read the post.
Alabama State issued a statement at 12:30 p.m. ET advising that all campus activities and classes would be suspended, and that campus police were “actively clearing all buildings on campus.” Those who do not live on campus were asked to leave once their building had cleared, while students who reside there were “directed to shelter in place inside their residence halls until further notice.”
Hampton University also wrote that it was ceasing all “non-essential activity” over a “potential threat” on the campus. The University canceled classes on Thursday and Friday, and scheduled athletic events. “It is imperative that all members of the Hampton University community remain vigilant,” read the statement.
Alabama State University has suspended all campus activities for Thursday, September 11.
Please remain safe and connected for further announcements. pic.twitter.com/Ibi2wginMx
— Alabama State University (@BamaState1867) September 11, 2025
Similarly, Southern University in Baton Rouge informed the campus community at 12:30 p.m. ET that it had received a “potential threat to campus safety” and is on lockdown. The statement asked those on campus to “shelter in place under further notice.”
Bethune-Cookman University in Florida also canceled classes and was placed on lockdown over a “potential threat to campus safety,” with Daytona Beach Police saying it was “actively investigating” the threat.
Clark Atlanta University stated that it was issuing a shelter-in-place notice “as a precautionary measure,” but didn’t specify whether it had received a direct threat, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. Neighboring HBCU Spellman College said it had not received any threats but was also issuing a shelter-in-place order as a precaution. “We have increased security presence across campus and at our two main entrances. Your safety remains our top priority,” Spellman wrote.
Campus police have provided no further information about motive or suspects. No injuries have been reported at any of the campuses.
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