The University of Tennessee system is looking for a new president, and NIU President John Peters is on the list of presidential nominations.

The list includes people who have been nominated for the position but neither have accepted nor declined the nomination. Currently there are 71 people on the list. The last day for a nominee or applicant to declare his or her candidacy for the presidential position is Friday, said Margaret Perry, executive director for the presidential search for the University of Tennessee and UT-Martin chancellor emeritus.

Before coming to NIU, Peters served as UT-Knoxville’s chief operating officer and provost. He worked directly with Knoxville’s chancellor on academic programs.

“That’s really the key academic position on the campus,” Perry said.

Peters will be considered for the position only if he tells the search committee he is interested by Friday, Perry said.

The search is open to anyone, and Perry said she thinks a good number of people will turn in a letter declaring his or her candidacy and a resume with references by the deadline. Currently, there are 30 confirmed candidates for UT president, and she expects more.

The new president will oversee the entire university system, which includes about 44,000 students, Perry said. Each division of the UT system has its own chancellor who oversees that particular campus.

The search will be narrowed to 10 or 12 candidates by Monday, and by April 15, the list will be whittled to between four and six, Perry said. On April 21, no fewer than three candidates will be interviewed by the UT Board of Trustees, and the board will decide that day who will assume the duties as UT president.

At a December NIU Board of Trustees meeting, the BOT extended Peters’ contract until 2010 and raised his salary to $272,950, which took effect Jan. 1.

The new UT president will work out of the Knoxville campus and will be offered a salary of between $400,000 and $500,000, a house and a car, Perry said. He or she is expected to assume duties on July 1.