NIU President John Peters made his decision: He will interview in Knoxville on Wednesday for the presidency of the University of Tennessee.

The UT Search Advisory Council on April 5 chose Peters as one of 12 candidates to continue in the presidential search process.

“Previously, I indicated to the NIU campus community that I would take a step-by-step approach to this opportunity,” Peters said in a statement released Sunday. “This weekend, after consultation with my family, I made the decision to take the next step in the UT process and meet with the full Search Advisory Council in Knoxville.”

Peters told the Northern Star last Tuesday he was interested in talking with UT representatives to find out more about the position. He said he is concerned with the level of interaction between the president and the students and faculty. Since then, Peters has met with UT Search Advisory Council members.

“Last week, I was able to spend some time with two members of the Search Advisory Council during their visit to DeKalb. They left very impressed with NIU, our people and programs. Barbara [Peters] and I were able to ask questions and learn more about the current situation in Tennessee and their expectations for the next UT president,” Peters said in his statement.

The search council will interview the candidates on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The council will decide Thursday a list of four to six candidates who will be recommended to the UT Board of Trustees for further consideration.

On April 20, those listed will meet with the Presidential Search Committee, which will decide and recommend no fewer than three finalists to the BOT. On April 21, the board will interview the finalists and decide that day who will be the next UT president.

“As previously pledged, I will continue to make my intentions known, quickly and publicly, at each stage of the process,” Peters said. “I remain fully committed to Northern Illinois University and the course we have set for the future.”