Decoding Alumni: A Comprehensive Guide to Usage and Abbreviations

Graduation is a significant milestone, marked by traditions like "Pomp and Circumstance" and the presentation of diplomas. As students transition from "pupils" and "learners," they enter a new category: alumni. The terms used to describe graduates have Latin roots, leading to a variety of forms that can be confusing. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and correctly using alumni, alumna, alumnus, alumnae, and related abbreviations.

Understanding the Terminology

The word "alumni" refers collectively to male and female graduates, or to a group of all-male graduates, and is plural. “Alumnae” refers to a group of women graduates and is plural. “Alumna” refers to a single female alum, and “alumnus” is a single male alum.

Latin Roots and Gendered Forms

Parents have been proud of kids for getting through school since ancient times, and that means the words for people who graduate come from Latin. After all, graduation is a momentous occasion: the students stand, faces shining, in their long gowns and funny-shaped hats. That’s where all those big Latin terms come in.

Alumnus: This is the masculine singular form, referring to one male graduate. The Latin noun alumnus means "foster son" or "pupil" and is derived from the verb alere "to nourish".
Alumna: This is the feminine singular form, referring to one female graduate. “Sophie grinned.
Alumni: This is the masculine plural form, used to refer to a group of male graduates or a mixed-gender group of graduates. Technically, alumni is the masculine plural form of the noun, but it can be used for either a group of mixed gender or a group of men. That’s because Latin grammar has a lot more distinctions based on gender than English grammar does. When Latin had its heyday a few thousand years ago, men were the default category.
Alumnae: This is the feminine plural form, referring to a group of female graduates. “The stone seal is indelible, consecrated by the generations of alumnae who have passed by, understanding and believing.

The Rise of "Alum"

The various forms of alumni can be difficult to remember, leading to the emergence of "alum" as a shortened, unisex form. At first, alum was frowned upon as extremely informal, but now it’s accepted as a replacement for all of the longer and more gender-specific Latin words. Why? Because two syllables are easier than three, and unspecified gender is easier than using a language that isn’t spoken anymore-which is probably in part because it insisted on far too many distinctions between singular and plural, male and female. The plural form of alum? That’s right: alums. If you form an English word by chopping off its Latin endings, it’s only fair to add an s as the English signal for plural.

It's important to note that "alum" is also a shortcut for referencing aluminum, so context is crucial.

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Usage Guidelines

Alumnus: Use for a single male graduate.
Alumna: Use for a single female graduate.
Alumni: Use for a group of male graduates or a mixed-gender group.
Alumnae: Use for a group of female graduates.
Alum/Alums: Use as a gender-neutral alternative in informal contexts.

Abbreviations and Style

Abbreviations and acronyms should be restricted to situations where they enhance comprehension: e.g., when your copy refers repeatedly to a lengthy name or term that has a commonly accepted abbreviation. Be aware that familiarity with most abbreviations and acronyms is context sensitive and field dependent.

Class Year Designation

When referring to alumni, include the last two digits of their class year after the name, with an apostrophe before the year. Do not use commas to separate names and class years. Judith B. Gorman '64 is an alumna of Utica University. James Franklin '21 is a biology major. (Note: If you are using a program or a font that employs "smart" quotes, be sure to employ a single "end" quote for the apostrophe, not a "start" quote.)

Multiple Degrees

When referring to an alumnus/alumna with multiple degrees, list the degrees in the order in which they were received. Andrea Fumilia '86, '92 is now a senior school administrator.

For alumni with degrees from different schools within a university, group the years after one school to save space. For schools that have changed names, use the current acronym, even if the alum attended when it was under a different name. For example, CAS for all past alums, even though they may have attended when it was CLA. To save space, group the two years after one school, and write CAS’03,’09, SPH’05.

Advanced Degrees

When referring to an alumnus/a who has earned a medical, doctoral, or other advanced degree at another institution, instead of using the title "Doctor" preceding the name, place the degree designation after the alumnus/a's Utica class year: Julie Mulder '80, Ph.D. is a specialist in biochemistry. Frank P. Smith '56, M.D. is planning to attend Homecoming. NOT: Doctor Frank P. Smith '56 (This implies the year is in reference to his M.D. when it refers to his Utica bachelor's degree.) Treat professional degrees in the same manner: Annamaria Chavez '96, C.P.A. is now head of an accounting firm.

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If an alumnus/a has earned both his/her bachelor's and graduate degrees at Utica, use the following convention: Christine Ominski '92, G'02 has opened a physical therapy practice. (Utica graduate degree year is preceded by a "G".)

In the case of an honorary degree from Utica University, use the same convention, placing an "H" before the graduate degree year: Congressman Sherwood Boehlert '61, H'94 is planning a campus visit.

Institutional Styles

The Alumni Association of the University of Michigan recently made the decision to use “alum” more broadly, and in more formal messaging including the Alumni Association mission statement. University units may determine whether they want to migrate to “alum/s,” retain the traditional terms or use a combination of both. gender-neutral word is needed, in more informal contexts (e.g. or institutional uses, e.g.

The Alumni Experience

Alumni may or may not have completed their degree. Many universities have alumni offices that coordinate fundraising and offer benefits to registered alumni. Alumni reunions are popular events at many institutions. These may be organized by alumni offices or by alumni associations, and are often social occasions for fundraising. Full membership of alumni associations is sometimes limited just to graduates rather than all alumni, e.g.

Alumni Associations and Benefits

Many universities maintain alumni associations to foster connections and provide benefits to their graduates. Members of the HAA include recipients of all degrees granted by the University and Radcliffe College, as well as the members of all University faculties. Others whose names appear on the alumni records of the University, but who have not received degrees, are associate members and program participants.

Read also: Columbia University Legacy

These associations often organize events, facilitate networking, and offer services such as career resources and discounts.

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