CONCORD, N.H. — A federal appeals court has rejected a University of New Hampshire professor’s claims the school defamed him by alerting staff to call security if he violated an order banning him from campus after he said he could “kill” another professor.

Associate Professor John Collins has waged an unsuccessful two-year court fight stemming from his expletive-laden tirade and threats of violence against a colleague he thought was responsible for reporting him when he parked in a loading zone on June 28, 2007.

After getting a parking ticket, Collins entered a classroom building, cursed and said he could “kill” the professor he thought was responsible. He then kicked a large can.

The outburst occurred less than three months after a shooting at Virginia Tech left 33 people, including the gunman, dead and heightened safety concerns on campuses nationwide.

The day after Collins’ tirade, he was arrested by campus police on allegations of disorderly conduct and stalking. The professor who was the target of his threats obtained a restraining order barring him from having any contact with her.

UNH sent an email to staffers and faculty members of the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture informing them of Collins’ arrest and telling them he was banned from campus.

Collins, who acknowledged to the dean that his behavior had been inappropriate, was permitted to resume teaching in January 2008 after being cleared of disorderly conduct and stalking charges.

Later that year, he filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Concord, alleging false arrest, defamation of character and violation of his due process rights. He said the email to staff implied he was “armed and dangerous.”