And although the need for funding far surpasses the total amount raised because state funding to UC and UCLA has been drastically cut in recent years, the campaign speaks to the willingness of individuals to join the cause on a very personal level. All told, more than 3,000 donations, averaging $75 each, have been made, but time is running out. The campaign ends Oct. 31.

“My promise is to do a giant day of service, bringing 100 volunteers from each campus to volunteer in light of the promise to our third pillar of the University of California – public service,” Corell said. “UCSD and UCLA are both extremely committed to service and volunteerism, and, since I have a connection to both, I want to bring my two homes together to give back.”

In Corell’s case, 18 donors have pledged $1,705 “through the support of my friends networks,” bringing her campaign to 34 percent of her goal. And while she’s got a ways to go, she’s already thinking about doing a project around hunger and homelessness, “which is an issue that both cities struggle with, so perhaps a food bank visit or hygiene kit creation session.”

Anne Pautler, UC Promise keeper.

Anne Pautler, director of asset management and content integration at UCLA Marketing and Special Events, has already fulfilled her promise to wear blue-and-gold face paint at the UCLA-Cal football game last week after raising $311.

Promise for Education is the latest addition to UC’s Project You Can campaign, a systemwide effort to raise $1 billion for student support through 2014. To date, the campaign has raised more than $700 million to help students who now contribute more to the cost of their education than does the state, which has cut back funding to UC dramatically in recent years.

The UC Promise campaign “has done a really nice job of lifting the awareness of the important role private philanthropy and scholarships play in ensuring a UC education is accessible and affordable,” said Jason Simon, executive director of marketing communications at the UC Office of the President. “We’ve been especially heartened by how many donors don’t necessarily have a UC connection but understand the role that the university plans in ensuring a strong California.”

One of the wackiest promises comes from UC Irvine School of Social Sciences Dean Bill Maurer and his staff, who are going where no promise has gone before. "Somehow, someone brought up the idea that we can all dress up as the crew of the Enterprise,” said Maurer, a lifelong “Star Trek” fan. “And I said, ‘I love that' … It's sort of corny to say, but people really do believe in the mission, and what better ‘Star Trek' virtue is there than that?"

If Maurer and his team receive $5,000 in donations — they are about a third of the way to their goal — Maurer and four members of his leadership team will go to work for a day dressed as Captain Kirk, Spock and other characters from the original "Star Trek" TV show.

Michael Lairmore, dean of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, is committed to racing the winner of the annual Picnic Day Doxie Derby winner while dressed as a dachshund if he hits his $1,000 goal. He’s only $400 short of his goal.

And UC Riverside staff member Adam Daniels promises to eat his greens and raise green for UC scholarships. He'll become a vegetarian for a year if he raises $5,000. He's about a third of the way there.

Other promises run the gamut from physical feats — like dancing for 48 hours straight to doing 20,000 pushups — but they're all rooted in a commitment to support UC and its students.

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View Rachel Corell's video appeal:

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