“Alma mater” is a Latin phrase that literally means “nourishing mother.” “Alma” is the feminine form of an adjective meaning nourishing, kind, or fostering, and “mater” means mother. The use of this phrase can be traced back as early as 55 BC when it was used to refer to the earth goddess, as explained by Werner Sollors in his book “Beyond Ethnicity.” After the fall of Rome in 476 AD, the term was Christianized and used to refer to Mary, the mother of Jesus. According to Columbia University Archives, the first recorded use of the phrase for an educational institution occurred in 1088 AD, when it was assigned as the motto of the University of Bologna in Italy, which is considered to be the oldest university in the Western world.
Today, we often use this phrase to refer to the school, college, or university from which we have graduated. Obviously, it originates from our love and gratitude for the academic institution we attended. After graduation when we get engaged in our work life, sometimes we look back to our academic institution and remember with fondness how it contributed to our personal growth and how it positively shaped our life like a mother raising her child. And often, these feelings evoke an urge to give back something to the Alma Mater as a repayment of the debt, as a token of gratitude, or simply by extending a helping hand. If the urge gets strong enough, we may devote our time, energy, and money to fulfill it.
Kathy Taylor, former Mayor of Tulsa and currently a Dean of the University of Tulsa, USA suggests four ways for the alumni to help their alma mater. In her LinkedIn article “Four Ways to Support Your Alma Mater After Graduation”, she describes them as volunteering, speaking to current and prospective students, keeping in touch, and donating. Different proportions of time, energy, and money will be needed for each of these options. Volunteering and speaking to current and prospective students require a considerable amount of time which is difficult to manage in the busy lives of today’s fast-paced digital age. Keeping in touch is probably in the middle ground but it’s not quite a substantial support. Donating is perhaps the easiest and the most effective of the four ways if you have the means. Just chip in a little for your alma mater without investing time and energy. Of course, no one will stop you from making a big donation if you have the ability and the will. Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City and renowned businessman donated $1.8 billion to his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University in 2018, as reported by US News & World Report.
Tuition fees at public universities are much lower than those at private universities. Alumni contributions can help private universities provide reductions in the cost of education and enable public universities to improve their physical facilities. It may be noted here on the sideline that most of the highest-ranked universities in the world are private institutions including Bloomberg’s alma mater.
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This article was published in the Daily Sun on July 22, 2023. Please read the full article here or here.