Flagship language programs have put the University of Mississippi on the map for language learners, and the Department of Modern Languages is now awaiting an announcement from the U.S. Department of Defense about whether it will host a nationwide competition for a Russian language flagship program.
Language flagship programs are intensive, federally funded initiatives for undergraduate institutions designed to make students fluent in critical languages. Students from any major can apply to the programs, which include study abroad requirements, small class sizes and one-on-one tutoring. The University of Mississippi currently houses Arabic and Chinese language flagship programs.
Daniel O’Sullivan, who serves as the chair of the department, has faith that the university’s Russian language program would be a strong candidate for a Russian language flagship.
“We think that we have the potential to be an outstanding Russian flagship program,” O’Sullivan said. “(We) already have a cadre of very dedicated teachers and students who regularly win competitions at Russian essay competitions and other things like that.”
The National Security Education Program, managed by the Defense Language and National Security Education Office within the U.S. Department of Defense, is responsible for launching institutional grant competitions for flagship programs.
Once requests for proposals open on the language flagship website, colleges and universities will turn in comprehensive, rigorous applications to be academically peer-reviewed and judged before federal grants are rewarded.
The 2026-28 Domestic Undergraduate Chinese and Arabic Language Flagship Program competition and the 2026-27 ROTC Flagship Summer Language Program competition were the most recent federal grant competitions.
The Department of Modern Languages does plan to apply for a Russian flagship if the U.S. Department of Defense announces a competition. The university’s application must convince the government to provide funding and operations.
“The only obstacle there is convincing (the U.S. Department of Defense) that we can do it,” O’Sullivan said. “We have done it in Chinese and Arabic, so I’m hoping that our reputation speaks for itself, that we know what we’re doing and (that) we’re deserving of the funding to make a Russian flagship happen.”
The Russian program currently operates as an undergraduate minor. Institutional enrollment and dropout data reports are not publicly available, but O’Sullivan believes the department is seeing an increase in lower-level course enrollments.
“I believe the numbers in the lower level (courses) are up, so that will translate to more numbers, I’m hoping, at the upper levels in due time,” O’Sullivan said. “If we were to have a Russian flagship here, I know that we would be able to get more … people into the upper levels.”
A Russian flagship program would not only benefit the students, but also the university, by creating visibility and notoriety for the program. It could serve to attract high-caliber prospective students.
“Just like in Arabic and Chinese, it will make us sort of a national target for some of the best language learners in the country,” O’Sullivan said.
The Department of Modern Languages has hosted the Chinese language flagship program since 2003, which was the first full year that the program was federally funded and operated, and the Arabic language flagship program since 2018.
Because the Chinese and Arabic language programs at the university are flagships, they have the ability to give their students more opportunities for study abroad programs and language advancement. Keagan Rupp is a sophomore Arabic and international studies double major from Cottleville, Mo., who believes a Russian flagship program would improve student experiences.
“The Arabic flagship has been an excellent opportunity, along with the pre-freshman summer and the summer abroad before sophomore year, to achieve my goals in accelerating my progress in the language,” Rupp said.
A Russian flagship would offer students the same opportunities that students in the Arabic and Chinese flagships already enjoy, including study abroad opportunities and other advanced learning experiences. Emily Barnes is a sophomore international studies major from Richton, Miss., excited about the potential for a Russian flagship.
“I would be excited about the Russian flagship because it would bring a new level to the Russian program here at Ole Miss,” Barnes said. “The Russian flagship aims to give students a new level of fluency, new abroad experiences and new academic skills that are all very important for our future jobs. My end goal of Russian language learning at Ole Miss is high working fluency, and (the) Russian flagship would be greatly beneficial to those with the same goal.”
Other Russian language students are also elated at the possibility of a Russian flagship. Liz Brittain, a sophomore international studies major and Russian minor from Collinsville, Miss., highlighted the various ways a Russian flagship could impact her academic career.
“Having a Russian flagship would mean that we would get more study abroad opportunities and that we would have more classes to take so it doesn’t feel like the time is ticking,” Brittain said. “I really love the Russian language, and I’d love to be able to have more resources available to learn it. It can be really disheartening whenever a language that I’ve poured so much time into doesn’t have as many resources as other languages on campus. I feel like a Russian flagship would significantly increase my working proficiency within the language.”
