As an academic city, Krakow has twenty-three tertiary education institutions located in different districts. The number of students living in Krakow can reach up to 130,000. Both of these statistics have varied over time, and the attempts to manage them in the past century do not meet current standards and cannot face upcoming challenges. The relationships with the external urban environment and other structures of the city are problematic since the areas between buildings are often neglected. There is an expectation that the universities will take the lead in formulating proposals for adaptation to climate change and at the same time will meet new social demands of the academic community. This paper presents a general overview of problems faced by university campuses on the example of the Czyżyny campus of the Cracow University of Technology. Using analytical methods associated with field research, the problems were identified and the potential of this area was outlined. Possible uses of the area were also proposed, based on the opportunities offered by the local heritage. Natural, social, and cultural aspects were considered. The analysis presented can be seen as a preliminary discussion of the potential of the areas directly adjacent to universities that set trends in proposed transitions, in accordance with, among others, the Green Deal. As well as seeking new solutions that combine strategic objectives, these areas are important from an educational point of view as they raise the environmental awareness of communities and younger generations, such as the students. Grassroots action that brings about real change is becoming increasingly urgent as it opens up the potential to harness the relationships between the city and campus, increasing their relevance as activation areas.