Professor Chris Higgins spoke several times of "partnership working" during his first full interview since he took over from Prof Kenneth Calman as the university's vice-chancellor.
And the new man at the top said he was hopeful the Lindisfarne Gospels could be put on show in Durham City to really put the place on the map.
Likening his role to that of a company chief executive, Prof Higgins said: "Durham is a marvellous place to live and work and the university is keen to play a full part in that.
"We have 12,000 students on campus and 3,000 staff. Durham City is a fairly small place and we are a big part of that place.
"I believe that if something is not right, don't just sit a around and complain about it, get up and do something.
"By working in partnership with residents and the other bodies and organisations in Durham City we can make it an even better place to live and work."
Prof Higgins is a graduate of the university and concedes some students don't always get along with the locals.
"Some of our students drink too much," he added. "But there's a side which people don't always see.
"For example, another university recently got in touch with our students to ask about holding a drinking competition in Durham City.
"Our students' view was they wanted nothing to do with the idea."
One of the jobs in Prof Higgins's in-tray is to press ahead with the new visitor centre in Owengate, the road leading to Palace Green, and to give the public better access to the university's vast collection of artefacts.
The professor said he would love to see the Lindisfarne Gospels on show in Durham City.
"That is my personal view," he added. "Our library on Palace Green might be a good place to show the gospels, or somewhere such as the cathedral cloisters.
"I believe it is important the gospels remain part of a national collection, but it is a national collection, not a London collection, so a long-term loan might be the best solution.
"To get the gospels back in the North East would be an achievement, but if the British Library say no, then that is the answer.
"What I would say is the time for campaigns and public gestures is now passed.
"Negotiations are going on and these need to be allowed to continue without the glare of publicity."
Despite wanting to push the university forward into the community, Prof Higgins said the organisation was not trying to take over Durham City.
"As regards the number of under-graduates we are about where we want to be," he added. "We can't control where students live, but our two new colleges have provided upwards of 600 bed spaces.
"I understand some landlords are now having trouble letting their student houses.
"That is another example of partnership working, had they come to us before buying into that market, we could have told them the situation."
Prof Higgins gave fuller details of his plans for the university at a free public lecture at the Gala Theatre in Millennium Place, Durham City, last night.