The City of Albemarle will have a community meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 in the City Council Chambers to hear citizens’ concerns, questions and ideas about the arrival of  Pfeiffer University’s new graduate campus.

The Health Science Center, which will be home to the graduate programs of physician assistant studies and occupational therapy, is set to open in August next year in downtown Albemarle.

“Council Members felt that with a year until Pfeiffer Health Services campus will be occupied with students, the timing was right to receive public input on readying the City,” said Assistant City Manager Nyki Hardy. She  added that Pfeiffer officials will also be at the meeting.

City officials have already been listening to local communities, including Spartanburg, South Carolina, that have experienced universities moving into their respective downtowns.

“We want to capitalize on the successes and avoid the failures that other communities have experienced in very similar processes to what we will be doing,” the City of Albemarle said in a statement on its website.

Officials plan to meet with other communities after the meeting.

“We hope to learn what the public thinks needs to happen to ready the city for Pfeiffer students arriving, then use that information to discuss it with other communities that have experience with colleges in their downtown or other areas in their city,” Hardy said.

Anyone who is unable to attend but still wants to send the city questions or comments may do so by emailing Hardy at nhardy@albemarlenc.gov or calling her at 704-984-9408.