The University of Texas at Austin ordered an evacuation of its campus this morning after receiving a phone call that explosives had been planted throughout campus, the university said.
A message posted on the university's website, at 10.35am said: "Evacuation due to threats on campus. Immediately evacuate ALL buildings and get as far away as possible. More information to come."
Rhonda Weldon, a spokeswoman, said the university had received a phone call at 8.35am from a man she described as having a "Middle Eastern accent."
Ms Weldon said the man had claimed "to have placed bombs all over campus."
"He stated these bombs would go off in 90 minutes," she said.
That time has since passed and campus officials are deciding whether to allow students and staff members back on campus.
The university decided to evacuate the entire campus "out of an abundance of caution," she said.
The university has an enrolment of about 51,000 students and 24,000 staff and faculty members.
A professor who was on campus at the time said the evacuation had proceeded calmly and smoothly for the most part.
"There was no sense of panic," said the professor, who asked that his name not be used, and who was driving away from campus as he spoke.
"I think people were just wondering what was going on and how seriously to take it."
North Dakota State University, in Fargo, also ordered an evacuation this morning because of a bomb threat.
The university posted a large red notice on its website saying, "Urgent Security Alert."
The notice said the university was requiring "all employees and students to leave campus by 10.15am.
This includes residence hall students, who, if necessary, should walk to locations off campus.
This also includes the downtown buildings and agricultural facilities." North Dakota State has about 14,000 students.
New York Times