Mark Hamilton, president of the University of Alaska, greeted high school students in Homer with a challenge Monday: College now or college later.

"I'm telling you right now that I'll get you sooner or later," Hamilton said. "Unless your goal is to be the head fry guy at McDonald's, you'll be back later in your life to see me."

Preparing for a constantly changing job market was the emphasis of Hamilton's comments. As illustration, he pointed to the past-sufficiency of on-the-job training for auto mechanics. Now, Hamilton continued, a mechanic couldn't spend enough time under the hood of an automobile to keep up with the onslaught of technical innovations in engine design.

"The workforce has changed since your parents entered the world," he said. "These are not your fathers' jobs out there and for sure they aren't your grandfathers'."

In addition, Hamilton told the students they could expect to hold at least seven different jobs in their lifetime, the majority of which don't even exist yet.

"You need to learn how to learn," Hamilton said.

Developing a workforce to meet today's and tomorrow's needs has meant changes for the university. Since Hamilton became president 11 years ago, the University of Alaska has added 100 new programs; 85 of them are two-year courses of study.

"If somebody tells you the university is not in everybody's future, let me tell you what they're saying: Not everybody needs a four-year degree. And they're correct," Hamilton told the students. "Seventy-seven percent of the jobs in America do not need a four-year degree."

Financial support the university receives from the state is an investment to attract Alaska students to stay in state and become workforce leaders. Without it, tuition would have climbed to three, four, five times what it is, Hamilton said.

Keeping options open was another piece of advice Hamilton offered students.

"Don't limit your options before you need to," he said. "At college, you learn about options you know nothing about."

Adding to the challenges confronting high school students are parents who are unaware of shifts in the world's workforce. Another challenge is the need for taking as many math classes as possible before high school graduation. Currently, only two are required by the state.

"The biggest limitation you'll ever put on yourself is not taking math," Hamilton said. "It just eliminates a huge number of potentially wonderful careers."

Urging students to go beyond basic requirements, the university president pointed out that passing Alaska's high school graduation qualifying exam doesn't mean students are ready for college. It means they meet the minimum standard for getting out of high school.

"Seventy-five percent of K-12 teachers believe a high school diploma means a student is college-ready; 75 percent of college professors think not," Hamilton said, using a statistic to illustrate his point.

The country's current economic environment, with individuals worried about or losing their employment, is adding to increased university enrollment, Hamilton said in an interview following his meeting with the students. Gary Turner, director of Kenai Peninsula College, and Carol Swartz, director of Kachemak Bay Campus, report more than a 1 percent increase in enrollment. Turner and Swartz said their campuses have experienced maximum capacity in some classes, classes having to be closed once full and students having to be turned away.

As a result, with the university's focus on workforce development, less faculty, space and financial resources are available for "recreational" courses, such as the one-day or weekend-type courses on specific topics.

Interestingly enough, one thing that hasn't changed is the scholarships that go unapplied for every year.

"Every year there are University of Alaska scholarships not applied for. There are always dollars left on the table," Hamilton said.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibbenjackinsky.@homernews.com.