To the editor:

Thank you for the story regarding the national accreditation of Southeast Missouri State University's mass communication program.

I would like to clarify the lead paragraph in the story. One might get the impression from "Since 1987 ... has been trying to get accredited" that we have tried unsuccessfully for 18 years to gain accreditation. What the lead should have said was that "after 18 years of preparation, the program achieved accreditation on its first attempt to gain this significant national recognition."

Again, we appreciate the coverage but feel that some clarification was needed.

C. THOMAS DRAPER, Interim Chairman, Communication Department, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau