'alumni-centred' is a compound formed from 'alumni' (from Latin) and 'centred' (from Old French/Latin 'centre'), where 'alumnus' (Latin) meant 'foster son, pupil' and 'centrum/centre' (Latin/Greek) meant 'center, point'.

'alumnus' passed from Latin into English as 'alumnus' with the plural 'alumni', while 'centre' passed from Old French (from Latin 'centrum' and Greek 'kentron') into Middle English as 'centre'; the adjective 'centred' was formed from 'centre', and the two elements combined to form the modern compound 'alumni-centred'.

Initially, the roots referred to 'foster child/pupil' and a physical 'center/point', but over time the compound evolved to mean 'centered on or focused on graduates'.