PELP, by its very name, reflects the importance Austin Peay's presidents have placed upon it. The University's presidents, who helped bring the program into being, have seen it as one of the institution's primary strengths and as being at the heart of what it means for Austin Peay to be Tennessee's public liberal arts university. The program exists as a healthy combination of theory and hands-on activities.
Participants come from various majors.
The classes and activities required of PELP Scholars are taken in addition to each participant's major. Students take six to 10 formal leadership courses. Other credits are earned in internships. Additionally, each PELP Scholar benefits from a mentoring relationship with one of the major leaders of the local community. Participants learn about various styles of leadership, how to assess their own strengths and weaknesses and how to exploit those strengths and remediate the weaknesses.