Am I an Alumna or an Alumnus?

"'Alumnus' when there's one of us, 'Alumni' when there's more. To pluralize I wonder why they subtract 'us' and add an 'i'? Seems perfectly ridiculous, Or is that ridiculi?" – Anonymous.

Alum, alumni, alumna, alumnus, alumnae. Everyone has their own variation when referring to college grads and we are here to assist in selecting the exact conjugation you should use at the perfect opportunity.

Typically, when talking about alumni, people refer to them as "alum." Although socially acceptable, this slang term is not grammatically correct. The word "alum" lumps all of the following conjugations of alumnus into one, quick phrase describing your fellow alumni. Read more or download our quick reference guide PDF to sound more intellectual and knowledgeable about your UHCL Alumni Association.

Alumnus
An "alumnus" is one male graduate from a particular school, college or university. Therefore, when referring to yourself, of course if you are a male, you would say that you are a UHCL alumnus.

Alumni
"Alumni" are a group of people, consisting of both genders, even if only one male is present, that have graduated from a particular school, college or university. That is why you are part of the UHCL Alumni Association. If UHCL happened to be a university for women only, we would be the UHCL Alumnae Association.

Alumna
An "alumna" is one female graduate from a particular school, college or university. When you hear our Director of Alumni and Community Relations Charity Ellis introduce herself, she proudly announces that she is a UHCL alumna, class of 2002.

Alumnae
"Alumnae" are a group of females that have graduated from a particular school, college or university. Typically, when working the bag check booth at commencement, we see and talk to quite a few new alumnae as they check their handbags and accessories.

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Join the UHCL Sisterhood as they Race for a Cure

The UHCL Sisterhood team will once again be participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and are inviting faculty, staff, students, alumni and community friends to join the cause. This year's event will be held Saturday, Oct. 6 in downtown Houston. Festivities begin with registration from 6–7:30 a.m. and opening ceremonies at 7:45 a.m. To Join the UHCL Sisterhood team, visit the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Houston website and select "Join a Team."

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Hire a fellow UHCL graduate

Hire a fellow UHCL graduate! Don't miss out on the many opportunities the Office of Career Services provides to employers for recruiting students and alumni from University of Houston–Clear Lake. To register as an employer for one of the fall events, including the annual Gulf Coast Job Fair and the Fall Teacher Job Fair, visit www.uhcl.edu/jobfairs or email the Office of Career Services at employerservices@uhcl.edu.

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Did you know that Professor Paul Wagner will share his love for UHCL with future generations?

Everyone who visits Professor of Philosophy and Educational Foundations Paul Wagner in his office remembers it. While guests can expect books to line the walls of most professors' offices, Wagner’s offers more–a feeling that only exists in places filled with someone's character and passion. Surrounded by windows, Wagner's corner office houses a desk, computer and shelves filled with philosophy and ethics books, along with a small rug, high-backed chair and a walled-off partition that gives it an at–home feeling. The welcoming setting, as well as the nature–filled views of the campus, makes it the envy of many at University of Houston–Clear Lake.

"When I heard this office was available 25 years ago, I jumped at the chance to be here," says Wagner who joined the university 33 years ago when it was still in its infancy and then became one of only two professors to advance from an assistant professor to full professor in just seven years, both of whom occupied the current office space. Although the other professor moved on to another university 25 years ago when he relinquished the prized office, Wagner has stayed in touch professionally on several publications.

When asked what his favorite memory is during his time at UH–Clear Lake, Wagner hesitates.

"That’s a tough question," says Wagner. "I have all sorts of memories…this has been my life."

So much a part of his life, that Wagner has left a lasting legacy to UH–Clear Lake, a bequest that will fund "The Wagner Lecture Series." Through the series a visiting philosophy professor will make a presentation at UH–Clear Lake on an annual basis, which is one way Wagner believes will guarantee to keep the discipline that has been his life's work going strong after he is gone.

About the bequest, Wagner comments, "I want to make sure philosophy lives on at UH–Clear Lake. This is my way of scratching on the wall 'Kilroy was here.'"

His work in ethics began with the realization that most bad things could be traced back to a wrongdoing.

"All the systems and laws that might be in place cannot make up for or stop what wrong or irresponsible people might do," adds Wagner.

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