The Chilean university system currently emphasizes bidirectionality and impact in its relationship with the environment, as outlined by the National Accreditation Commission. Given this context, it is important to assess whether the community’s expectations align with this goal. This article presents findings from a qualitative study conducted in the Nahuelbuta and Costa Araucanía areas, revealing that community leaders and municipal officials view the university primarily as a teaching institution, while municipal managers expect it to contribute research-based solutions to local challenges. From a network governance perspective, it is recommended to develop an “interface” of university-community relations, enabling the expansion of the actors’ mental models regarding the university and the generation of collaborative processes for identifying community needs.