Can you get a locker anywhere on campus? Having a locker at school means I have somewhere to stash my shoes and helmet during the day. This greatly reduces the amount of stuff I have to haul around all day. I usually leave my books in the locker at night.

I have a Mr. Bento lunchbox that I love. I use a bungee cord to strap it to one side of my rack, and put my pannier on the other side. I like the Mr. Bento because it is hard sided and protects my food from being squished, and it holds enough food for my rather large appetite. It was expensive for a lunchbox, but eating out less means that it payed for itself within a week.

Good luck! I went back to school when I was 29. The undergraduate boys are annoying, but I love challenging myself with my coursework.