Alma mater

Alma mater (Latin alma "nourishing/ kind", mater "mother"; pl. (rarely used) almae matres) is a term that was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and later in Christianity for the Virgin Mary. In English it is often used to refer to any educational institution (most often a college or university) at which one has studied and usually from which one has received a bachelor's degree– i.e., where one is considered an alumnus/alumna. The term may also refer to a song or hymn associated with a school.