An alumnus (pl. alumni) according to the American Heritage Dictionary is "a male graduate or former student of a school, college, or university. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language ( AHD) is an American Dictionary of the English language published by " ^[1] In addition, an alumna (pl. alumnae) is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college, or university. " ^[2]

Origin

The English word "alumnus" comes from the Latin noun "alumnus" meaning "nursling" or "ward" ^[3] and has come to mean, within common English usage, a graduate (or nursling) of a seat of learning. ^[4] "Alumna" is a feminine form of "alumnus" that has entered common English usage.

Usage

As indicated in the American Heritage Dictionary, an alumnus or alumna is either someone who has attended the school (or a "former student of a school") or someone who has graduated from the school. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language ( AHD) is an American Dictionary of the English language published by ^[1][2] Furthermore, according to dictionary.reference.com and the United States Department of Education, the term alumnae is used in conjunction with either women's colleges^[5] or a female group of students. Referencecom is an online information source that provides Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Thesaurus, and other content The United States Department of Education (also referred to as ED, for Education Department is a Cabinet -level department of the United States The term alumni is used in conjunction with either men's colleges, a male group of students, or a mixed group of students:

Traditionally, the masculine plural alumni has been used for groups composed of both sexes and is still widely so used: the alumni of The University of Illinois. Men's colleges in Higher education are Undergraduate, Bachelor's degree -granting institutions whose students are exclusively men Sometimes, to avoid any suggestion of sexism, both terms are used for mixed groups: "the alumni/alumnae of The University of Illinois" or the "alumni and alumnae of The University of Illinois" coeducational institutions usually use alumni for graduates of both sexes. Mixed-sex education, (or just Mixed education) also known as Coeducation, is the integrated education to males and females at the same school facilities Some may prefer the phrase "alumni and alumnae" or the form "alumnae/i", which is the choice of many women's colleges that have begun to admit men. ^[6]

The term is sometimes shortened to alum which stands for "an alumna or alumnus. "^[7]

"Alumni" (a plural form) is often used as a singular form for both genders; for example, "I am an alumni of the university," as opposed to "I am an alumnus/alumna of the university. " This usage is erroneous in formal or historic usage. The prevalence of this usage is likely due to an ignorance of Latin grammar and the fact that printed documents and university merchandise almost always use the plural form of the word.

Alumni reunions are popular events at many institutions. "High school reunion" redirects here For other uses see High School Reunion. They are usually organized by alumni associations and are often social occasions for fundraising. An alumni association is an association of graduates ( Alumni) or more broadly of former students Fundraising is the process of soliciting and gathering Money or other gifts in-kind by requesting donations from individuals businesses charitable foundations or governmental

Related terms

At most public schools, New Zealand schools, and a few universities in the UK, and to a lesser extent in Australia and Canada, the phrases old boy and old girl are traditionally used for former school pupils, and old member (or "alumni" in New Zealand) for former university students. An independent school in the United Kingdom is a school relying upon private sources for all of its funding predominantly in the form of school fees For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page An old boy network, or society, can refer to social and business connections among former pupils of top male-only Private schools This can apply to At the Royal Military College of Canada, the phrases former cadet and member of the old brigade are traditionally used as are college numbers. The Royal Military College of Canada (RMC is the Military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting University. Another example is the term old corps, in reference to alumni from the Virginia Military Institute. The Virginia Military Institute ( VMI) located in Lexington Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior

Some will use a specific term clearly linked to the school name, such as Old Etonian, Old Knox Grammarian or Old Silcoatian (alumni of Eton College, Knox Grammar School and Silcoates School), or a more obscure one, such as Old Citizen and Old Gregorian for those of the City of London School and Downside School. Eton College, or just Eton, is a world-famous British Independent school for boys founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. Knox Grammar School is an independent, Uniting Church, day and Boarding school for boys located in Wahroonga, an upper North Silcoates School is a public (private school in Wakefield, England. The City of London School ( CLS) is a boys' Independent school on the banks of the River Thames in the City of London. Downside School is a Roman Catholic Public School in Stratton-on-the-Fosse near Bath, situated next to Downside Abbey.

In Scotland, the term former pupil (FP) is also used, especially when referring to sports teams of a school. Some U. S. schools, most notably Texas A&M University, also prefer former student. Texas A&M University, often called A&M or TAMU, is a Coeducational public Research University located in College Station

Footnotes

See also

• Alma mater
• Old boy network
• Alumni association