President comments on Tennessee candidacy

NIU President John Peters released the following statement over the weekend in response to news that he has been nominated for the presidency at the University of Tennessee:

“Last month, I was nominated to become a candidate for the presidency at the University of Tennessee. Given the extraordinary openness of the UT search process, all expressions of interest require nominees to publicly accept or decline their nominations at a very early stage. Respecting both the letter and the intent of this requirement, and in keeping with my practice of fully informing the NIU campus of my actions, today I am publicly affirming my interest in further discussions about the UT presidency.

The University of Tennessee is one of our country’s great public universities. Its presidency is a system-level position, overseeing four campuses, a medical school and many research centers and institutes, as well as the education of more than 42,000 students. I was honored to serve UT as provost, and more honored still to be considered for its presidency.

My nomination to head such a large and complex institution is testament to the growing reputation of Northern Illinois University and the equally complex role that NIU fills so successfully in this nation’s third-largest metropolitan region. The success of our efforts to establish NIU as the nation’s premier regional public university – driven by the needs and aspirations of the richly diverse Chicagoland area – is underscored by this recognition.

In the spirit of openness that has so characterized this search, I pledge to make my intentions known, quickly and publicly, at each stage of the process. I remain fully committed to Northern Illinois University, its continued growth and development, and the course we have set for the future. I look forward to being a part of NIU’s continued growth and development, and remain invigorated by the challenges that lie ahead.”

4-5-04