NIU acting Vice President and Provost Daniel Wit withdrew his application for the position of provost yesterday and has been replaced by an alternate candidate.

James Lankford, co-chairman of the Provost Search Committee, said Wit removed his name from the candidacy for “personal reasons.” However, he said, Wit did not disclose any specific reasons for his withdrawal. Wit was scheduled to be interviewed April 16 and 17.

Lankford said the search committee has replaced Wit with John Gruber, of San Jose, Calif. He said Gruber will be interviewed according to Wit’s schedule, which includes an open forum on April 17 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Gabel 119.

Gruber currently is a physics and chemistry professor at San Jose State University in California and previously was vice president for academic affairs there from 1984 to 1986. From 1980 to 1983, he was vice president for acadmic affairs at Portland State University in Oregon. In addition, Gruber was the dean of the college of science and mathematics at North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D. from 1975 to 1980 and was assistant dean to the graduate school at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. from 1968 to 1972.

Gruber received his doctorate in chemistry and chemical physics from the University of California in Berkeley in 1961. From Haverford College in Pennsylvania, he earned a bachelor’s of science in 1957.

Gruber has served as a consultant for federal government agencies including the U.S Army, Navy and NASA. In addition, he has consulted for corporations such as Union Carbide and General Electric.