Infectious, toxic or explosive letters or packages could be sent to members of the campus community.  Suspicious letters or packages may have one or more of the following characteristics:

  • Return address or name is unfamiliar
  • Addressed to someone no longer with the College, or otherwise outdated.
  • Have no return address, or have one that cannot be verified as legitimate
  • Are of unusual weight, given their size, or are lopsided or oddly shaped.
  • Are marked with restrictive endorsements, such as "Personal" or "Confidential"
  • Have protruding wires, strange odors or stains
  • Excessive non-metered (stamps) postage
  • Show a city or state in the postmark that doesn't match the return address

If a suspicious letter or package is received at Connecticut College, the following procedures should be followed:

  • Do not attempt to open the parcel. Do not shake, sniff or empty the contents.
  • Isolate the parcel. Place it in a plastic trash bag or other type of container to prevent leakage of contents.
  • Leave the room, close and lock the door to prevent others from entering. Inform others to stay out of the secured room.
  • Wash your hands with warm soap and water to prevent spreading any contamination to your face, the telephone or others.
  • After washing, contact Campus Safety at extension 111, 2222, or (860) 439-2222.

Campus Safety will notify the appropriate civil authorities and ensure that the scene is secured pending their arrival.

If suspicious object is found at Connecticut College:

  • Do not handle the object! Clear the area and immediately call the Campus Safety Office at at extension 111, 2222, or (860) 439-2222.

If you receive a phone call bomb threat, stay calm and ask the caller:

  • When is the bomb going to explode?
  • Where is the bomb located?
  • What kind of bomb is it?
  • What does it look like?
  • Why did you place the bomb?

Keep talking to the caller as long as possible and record the following:

  • Time of call
  • Age and sex of caller
  • Speech pattern, accent, possible nationality, etc.
  • Emotional state of the caller
  • Background noise

After the caller hangs up, immediately call at extension 111, 2222, or (860) 439-2222.  The Campus Safety Director or Shift Supervisor will contact the appropriate personnel to conduct a detailed bomb search.

Connecticut College employees are requested to make a cursory inspection of their area for suspicious objects.  If a suspicious object is found, DO NOT TOUCH IT! If an emergency exists, activate the building alarm and report the emergency by phone. When the building evacuation alarm in sounded, proceed to the Designated Assembly Area.