Shep

Shepard Smith was the speaker at this year's university-wide commencment.  Smith is listed in the official press release as an alumnus of the University of Mississippi.  To quote:


Smith, a native of Holly Springs, is the country's top-rated cable news anchor. The Ole Miss alumnus anchors the network's signature "The Fox Report" evening newscast and afternoon news-interview program "Studio B."

The only problem is that Smith never graduated.  He dropped out his senior year.  So, my question is, can you be an alumnus of a school from which you did not graduate?

Bonus quote from Smith's commencement speech:

"I've watched the sun rise over the deck of an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf," he said. "I've spoken with presidents and interviewed kings. I've gotten up in Santorini and Split, and bedded down in Dubai and Dubrovnik and Amman and Amsterdam."

Left out of the official press release, Shep then added, "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain."

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Robbie
Some people do assert that "alumnus" is interchangeable with "graduate," but this has not been the case universally, and the etymology more closely suggests "student."

For the purposes of alumni association membership and fund-raising appeals, I think most schools classify you an alumnus after you complete a semester, because at that point you will have a permanent transcript on file.
Karl Nastrom
In its fund raising and PR materials, my alma mater frequently and prominently mentions Kofi Annan, who graduated, and Walter Mondale, who transferred to the U of Minnesota after 2 years. It seems they use matriculation as the threshold -- once you arrive for orientation, you're part of the family.

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