What is an Alumnus?
Alumnus? Alumnae? Alumninum*? Let’s set the record straight
A male is called an alumnus; a group of males are alumni. A female is called an alumna; and a group of females is referred to as alumnae. A group comprised of men and women is called by the gender-neutral alumni.
And here’s the best part: alumnus, alumna, alumnae, alumni, all come from the Latin words
alumnus, which means foster child, and alere, which means to nourish.
If you have completed at least one year of study, we recognize you as an alumnus/alumna and you are eligible for all the services available to alumni. You are part of a dynamic Alumni Association with over 23,000 members worldwide.
From 1908-1971, the alumnae are graduates or former students of a four-year university program. Prior to 1969, Marianopolis was Montreal's only English-language University for women. From 1969 to the present day, the alumni are graduates or former students from the two-year pre-university DEC program.
*For those who are really curious: Alumninum is a common misspelling of Aluminium.
