'alumni-oriented' is a modern English compound combining 'alumni' and 'oriented'. 'alumni' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'alumnus', where the root 'alere' meant 'to nourish'. 'oriented' ultimately comes from Latin via Old French, specifically from 'orient-'/Latin 'oriri', where 'oriri' meant 'to rise' (related to the east, the rising sun).

'alumnus' passed into English from Latin/Neo-Latin as 'alumnus' (plural 'alumni'); 'orient' entered English via Old French 'orienter' from Latin 'orient-'/'oriri' and became 'orient' in Middle English. In modern English these elements were combined to form the compound adjective 'alumni-oriented'.

Initially, 'alumnus' meant 'nursling' or 'pupil' and 'oriri' meant 'to rise'; over time 'alumni' came to mean 'former students' and 'oriented' came to mean 'directed toward' so the compound now means 'directed toward former students'.