evans hopes confidence in new leadership could lead to more state funding. but he conceded that is not the only solution. >> we're looking at rightsizing across the campus, evenng at our facilities and making sure that we are maximizing our facility use in our building and optimizing every bit that we can so we're not wasting any money wasting resources. >> ifill: he's also looking to build on the school's strongest academic programs, like one in nuclear engineering. kenneth lewis heads that program, the only one of its kind in south carolina, and says it supports the kinds of students historically black universities have focused on. >> a lot of our kids are rural kids from small towns, rural towns in south carolina where they might not have calculus for example. we spend a lot of time with those kids, developing them encouraging them, and strengthening their background. >> ifill: darian james graduated summa cum laude from the program this year, and is heading to the university of wisconsin to pursue a ph.d. in biomedical engineering. >> it taught me to get comfortable at being uncomfortable. it pushed me, it challenged me so going to any other school i feel