Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost William C. Richardson is now the only candidate for the presidency of Johns Hopkins University and will probably be asked next week to assume the post at the Baltimore institution.

The only other finalist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Provost John M. Deutch, withdrew his name from consideration for the post Wednesday, said Ghita Levine, associate director of news and information for Johns Hopkins.

Richardson, who runs the day-to-day operations here, said yesterday he would not comment on the possibility of accepting the position, if offered, until the Baltimore university's full board of trustees meets.

Hopkins' search committee will meet today to discuss Richardson's status, Levine said. And the board is scheduled to meet Wednesday to name its new president. Richardson yesterday would not say if he plans to travel to Baltimore for the meeting.

Richardson, who has held his position at Penn State since 1984, is considered a possible candidate to replace retiring University President Bryce Jordan. Jordan retires Aug. 31.

J. Lloyd Huck, the head of Penn State's Trustee Presidential Selection Committee, confirmed last Saturday that Richardson was under consideration for the presidency here.

But while Hopkins hopes to have its new president confirmed by the end of the month, Penn State's Board of Trustees is not scheduled to receive nominations until March 1. A new president will not be named until summer.

Under this arrangement, Richardson may be offered the Hopkins' presidency without a commitment from Penn State's presidential selection committee.

Huck and the head of the Search and Screen Committee said Saturday they would not alter the University's schedule to name a new president regardless of Richardson's option with Hopkins.

Huck could not be reached for comment yesterday.

According to an article in yesterday's edition of The Baltimore Sun, Richardson is very likely to be recommended by Hopkins' search committee and gain approval by that university's trustees.

If confirmed by Hopkins' board, Richardson could replace Steven Muller, who is retiring after 18 years.

Last week both Richardson and Deutch interviewed with Hopkins' senior officers, academic department heads and the board of trustees' selection committee.

But Deutch chose to withdraw his name from candidacy for personal reasons, according to the Sun.

Deutch would not comment yesterday on the reason for his withdrawal, said an MIT spokesman.

While at Penn State, Richardson has earned a great deal of respect, Huck said. Second in authority only to Jordan, he has largely determined the agenda of the general operation of the University and handled many budgetary issues.

Anne Petersen, dean of Penn State's College of Health and Human Development , said if Richardson left the University, "It would just be terrible."

"He's a very smart person who's extremely personable. He's an extremely rare type of administrator," she said.

Richardson was "a key player" in the formation of a new school and new programs, as well as an advocate of existing programs in health and human development, Petersen said.

Much of Richardson's research and writing focuses on issues of public health and community medicine.

Hopkins, respected internationally for its medical research programs, has suffered from financial problems in recent years, according to the Sun. Last year, those issues culminated in a crisis which caused a rift between Muller and some faculty members, the article stated.

Richardson graduated with a degree in history from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and earned a graduate degree in business at the University of Chicago, according to a biography provided by Penn State's Department of Public Information.

Before coming to Penn State, he served as dean of the graduate school and vice provost for research at the University of Washington.