LOWELL — A former UMass Lowell associate dean who was demoted to professor over accusations of sexual harassment retired from UMass Lowell effective July 30, according to university spokesman Jonathan Strunk.

Oliver Ibe was demoted from associate dean to professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering after he was accused of touching a staff member and sexually harassing her.

The woman, then-43 and a subordinate, claims she suffers panic attacks and was diagnosed with PTSD following the unwanted sexual advances.

A university probe into the allegations, and similar claims, two years ago found Ibe violated the university’s sexual harassment, sexual discrimination and other sexual misconduct guidelines.

UMass Lowell officials said the matter had been addressed and that the school took appropriate action. However, a petition started by a student and signed by almost 1,500 people this spring argues the university did not go far enough.

Following the petition, roughly a dozen students gathered outside Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney’s office to call for further action.

Nearly a hundred faculty and staff also signed a petition that was sent to the school’s Executive Cabinet asking for Ibe to be removed from campus.

Mignon Duffy, who led the faculty and staff small task force, said in an email she is grateful Ibe will no longer be on campus. But, she said, the development allows the university to avoid direct action.

“I am grateful that Oliver Ibe will no longer be a threat to women on our campus,” she wrote. “However, this outcome does not absolve the university of its failure to hold him accountable for his behavior. In fact it allows the university to avoid direct action.”

“It is my hope that the work of the Sexual Harassment Task Force will put in place clear guidelines and processes that will create a culture that truly does not tolerate harassment and is unequivocal in that commitment.”

In one encounter, the staff member accused Ibe of moving his hands around the sides of her waist, rubbing her, then moving his hands toward her lower back. The woman pushed him away, she said. It was one of several claims in a wide-ranging complaint alleging inappropriate behavior by Ibe.

The university settled with the staff member for $75,000. The sum included a check for $49,300 and $25,700 in attorney’s fees.

In addition to the new title, Ibe was paid $159,893 last year, a drop from an over $200,000 salary each of the previous two years when he served as an associate dean.

Ibe, 71, lives in Andover and joined UMass Lowell in 2003. He is a married father of four.

Multiple attempts by the Sun to seek comment from Ibe this spring were unsuccessful.