Chapman Moving Forecast Venue, Offering State Projections
By RAJIV VYAS
When it comes to economic forecasting conferences, few universities go as all-out as Orange-based Chapman University. This time around, Chapman has changes in store for its 2002 forecast.
For the first time in 24 years, the university plans to hold its forecast conference off campus. The event is set for Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine.
Chapman also plans to make an annual forecast for California, another first for the school. And, also for the first time, the university is holding its forecast conference on he same day as that of the UCLA Anderson Forecast conference in Los Angeles.
Chapman officials said they expect about 1,000 people to attend this week’s event. Last year, some 900 people attended.
“We have been growing here as a campus and our student population has been growing,” said James Doti, Chapman’s president. “Parking (for the economic conference) has become more difficult.”
UCLA officials said they expect 300 attendees this year compared to 200 last December. California State University, Fullerton, said it anticipates having 750 people at its annual economic event, up from 550 last year.
Chapman started making local forecasts 24 years ago and later expanded to include all of the Southland and the U.S. The university stopped making forecasts for San Diego in 1997.
As for the school’s first statewide forecast, Esmael Adibi, director of the school of business and economics at Chapman University, said, “We started realizing that we need to know what’s happening to the state as well.
“More and more people in OC are looking outside the county,” Doti said. “Home builders who are involved in development are now doing development outside the county.”
The officials said that holding the conference on the same day as UCLA’s event was coincidental.
“We don’t plan this event on when other conferences are happening,” Adibi said.
