Universities are increasingly recognized as engines of societal transformation due to their civic role. This study evaluates how physical border strategies such as permeability and invitation, connectivity, shared activities and facilities, identifiable gateways, and university location and its planning considerations are associated with university – city social interaction in three major Iranian universities: University of Tehran, University of Tabriz, and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Data were collected through an online questionnaire with 389 participants and analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS. Correlation results indicated that shared activities and facilities (p < .01, ρ = .597), identifiable gateways (p < .01, ρ = .512), and connectivity (p < .01, ρ = .506) showed the strongest associations with university – city social interaction. Findings indicate willingness in both the university community and the non-academic community to strengthen university – city physical connections, although willingness is significantly higher among city groups.

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