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DeVry, Chamberlain Campuses Closed Due To Email Threat

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Classes were cancelled at two local colleges on Monday, after receiving an email threat involving their campuses.

Officials at DeVry University and Chamberlain College of Nursing informed students and staff of the threat late Sunday night, by email and robocalls.

"Based on the advice of our security team and local law enforcement, we decided to close all Chicago area DeVry University and Chamberlain College of Nursing locations for Monday, February 10," officials said in an email.

School officials did not provide any details of the threat contained in the email.

DeVry President David Pauldine said the university received the email threat on Sunday.

"The contents of the email gave rise to our decision to close our Chicago area campuses," Pauldine said. "We reached that decision in close consultation with law enforcement officials who have experience in dealing with matters like this."

Pauldine added that the sender's address was attached to the email and that law enforcement is working toward verifying the sender's IP address.

"This was not a blind email. The sender's name is part of the email," he said. "That may or may not mean anything. Until law enforcement can do analysis with the IP address, it is premature to identify the individual."

Pauldine would not confirm whether the name attached to the email is a former or current DeVry student. He also said it's unclear at this time which campus is under the possible threat.

Victor Sanabria, a senior at DeVry, said, "it's pretty scary."

Sanabria said he wishes students had been informed earlier, but he's confident police and school officials know how to handle the situation.

DeVry has four campuses in the Chicago area – in the Loop, in North Center, near O'Hare International Airport, and in north suburban Gurnee.

Chamberlain has campuses in North Center, south suburban Tinley Park, and west suburban Addison.

--The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

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