A directory of more than 120,000 former employees of E&Y -- regardless of their current profession, and even if they left to work for a competitor -- is accessible online at www.alumni.ey.com to all individuals who left in good standing after working for the firm for a minimum of one year. Thus far, nearly 6,000 alumni have signed up for the site's services.

The launch of the Web site supports E&Y's efforts to build a network of support for its employees, past and present, through its People First initiatives. Additionally, the site will be a valuable tool for staying in touch with potential returning employees, said Madge Nimocks, Director of Americas Alumni Relations for E&Y.

Upon logging into the password-protected site, alumni can look up former co-workers in the directory, build a personal or professional profile, participate in surveys and read up on the latest Ernst & Young news. The alumni career center is a resource for job links in multiple professional fields and provides alumni with a place to post their resumes.

The Web site also includes "alumni spotlights," or profiles of former Ernst & Young employees who are doing notable things; listings of discounts available to current and former Ernst & Young employees; announcements of alumni events, and "class notes" updates on major events in the lives of individual alumni. Each geographical area also has it owns homepage and provides information on local happenings and people.

Nimocks expects that additional features, including training initiatives and mentoring programs, will be available through the site in the months ahead.