# Alumni

## Common terminology

* Alum – never use this abbreviation in formal communications 
* Alumna – use when referring to a single female graduate 
* Alumnae –  use when referring to plural female graduates (rhymes with “she”)
* Alumnus – use when referring to a single male graduate 
* Alumni – use when referring to plural male graduates or a mix of male and female graduates
* Alumni engagement – the office that manages the school's relationship with alumni. Avoid using alumni affairs or alumni relations.

## Alma Matter

Alma matter should be two words, lowercase, not italicized. When possible, include the school or university an individual attended. For example:

> The University of Illinois College of Medicine is Dr. Smith’s alma mater. 

## Alumni

Alumni are noted by including their year of graduation as follows: 

* Mary Smith, MD ’86, is now director. 
* John Doe, MD, Res ’79, won the award. 
* Obi Kenobi, MD ’89, Res ’92, is now program director.
*  Susan Smith, MD, Fel ’15, works at XYZ Hospital. 
* Ana Shah, MS ’16, won the award. 

Please note that you should include "Res" if the person is a graduate of a residency program and "Fel" if the person is a graduate of a fellowship program. Make sure to use an apostrophe, not a single quotation mark ‘ or inch mark ' for class years.

### Writing about more than one 

The inclusion of the year is what sets alumnus apart from other non-alumnus that might have the same degree designation. Someone For example: 

> Joe Schmoe, MD, joined Mary Smit, MD ’86, at the meeting. 

When writing about two or more alumni, place the name of the earlier graduate first: Jane Smith, MD ’85, and John Jones, MD ’87, were recognized at the reception. 

When an alumnus is listed with his or her spouse, place the alumnus’s name second and put the class year after his or her name: Michael and Lisa Garcia, MD, Res ’92.