The program is small and personal, with a strong commitment to mentoring students. There are two professors of Russian on faculty and an adjunct instructor who teaches a section of the first-year language course. UM has an active Russian Club that hosts a weekly conversation table and monthly cultural evenings. Faculty members participate in Russian Club, as well, and students have ample opportunity to get to know their professors. Students are highly encouraged to experience Russia, either through UM's three-week faculty-led study abroad program (offered every other year) or through semester- and year-long programs.

Many students of Russian here at UM pursue double majors in such disciplines as history, political science, English literature, journalism, anthropology, and art. The Russian faculty is happy to advise students on pairing majors and minors, on opportunities for study abroad, and on post-graduation plans. UM students of Russian traditionally place exceptionally well in ACTR's annual national essay contest and are awarded the State Department's Critical Language Scholarship and Fulbright Grant. With a degree in Russian from UM, many students have gone on to law school, to graduate programs in Slavic, or to teach English in Russia.