The Dean of Science at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia has been charged after she allegedly orchestrated a fake harassment campaign against herself, prompting a lengthy police investigation and the implementation of significant security measures.

Environmental chemist and toxicologist Professor Dianne Jolley faced a Sydney court on Wednesday over charges she allegedly sent threatening letters to herself between May and September.

She is the fifth dean in as many years to serve in the UTS science faculty. In June the department was rocked by a decision to stop offering its degree in traditional Chinese medicine after more than 25 years.

University sources have told The Sydney Morning Herald the charges against Jolley are believed to be linked to the course closure.

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The claimed harassment campaign began in May when Professor Jolley, 49, allegedly first made a report to police about letters she had received regarding the cancellation of a university course.

She claimed that she received a total of four letters in the period to August.

On another occasion in September Jolley allegedly told police that a threatening letter and clothing items had been left on her vehicle in Sydney's south, while a number of clothing items had been stolen from the backyard of her property.

RENEE NOWYT/SYDNEY MORNING HERALD Dianne Jolley leaves the Downing Centre Court after her first court appearance.

Later that same month the university academic made another police report that a threatening letter and an item of clothing had been sent to a business in Haymarket.

As a result of the claimed harassment, significant security measures were implemented on Professor Jolley's behalf and an investigation was launched by officers from Sydney City police.

On November 15 Professor Jolley was arrested at the UTS campus and charged with obtaining a financial advantage by deception, giving false information about a person or property in danger, and making false representations resulting in a police investigation.

She was released on bail before her first scheduled appearance at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, when her solicitor Aaron Kerneghan said she would plead not guilty to all three charges.

The court heard there would be a six-month delay in police retrieving forensic evidence from digital devices. The matter will next be heard on February 12.

NSW POLICE Police arrested and charged a university academic Professor Dianne Jolley over a fake harassment campaign.

Outside court Kerneghan said his client was "obviously concerned to have her day in court", describing the claimed threats as genuine.

"She's loyal to her university, she's concerned for her students, she's looking forward to returning to there."

He said Jolley had "been experiencing a long and steady progress of difficulties at the university" but it was "difficult to say what the threats were over".

Kerneghan said he could not speak for UTS, as to claims the alleged harassment was linked to its plans to drop the Chinese medicine degree.

But he said there had been interest from "a number of stakeholders" in that course.

"That has led to a number of very passionate actors out there... That's been difficult for all the staff, I imagine, at the university but certainly my client."

Jolley joined UTS as Dean of Science in December 2018. She has PhD qualifications and a lengthy body of published journal articles on marine pollution and environmental toxicology and chemistry.

She is currently on leave with pay from the university.

A UTS spokeswoman said it was assisting police and "providing support to our community. As this matter is before the courts we cannot make further comment".