.more on „alumni“

Definition

Alumnus (plural: alumni), Latin, pupil, from alere, to nourish. A male graduate or former student of a school, college, or university.

Meaning

Nowadays the term alumnus applies to a graduate from a university or a stipendiary from a sponsorship organisation. Alumna (pl. alumnae), the feminine adaptation was composed due to the high number of female graduates.

The precise usage of the term can vary from thematic context and from individual perception. More specifically it can respond to a group of graduates from a university and in a broader sense it can relate to current students as well as former students.

history

The foundation of former students association (Alumni-association) is very traditional in various ways. The first Alumni-associations were already founded more than 200 years ago. Not only in the States, but also in France and England there is a long living tradition of Alumni-associations and therefore are adequately established. Although in Germany the importance was only recognized in the 1980’s.

Social and work orientated networking are increasingly gaining more importance. The cooperation with the Alumni are deeply rooted in American university life. “Alumning” is understood, not only as a service for former students but more as a service for future Alumni. Due to intensive social and academic supervision, the source of identification with the university is intensified. Live-long connections are developed. A win-win situation is at hand. Exceptional impulses in research and teachings are the results which blossom for both, former students and the university. Following the successful model of Alumni-cooperation in the United States, numerous German universities strengthen their efforts in supervising former students.

Alumnae/Alumni not only have the possibility to cherish their relationship to their fellow students and the university, furthermore they can benefit from advanced-training offerings.