Bear with me, my mind just went Pffttt..on the REAL word this is called. A daily planner type thing. Has the months of the year in it with day squares big enough to write more than one itty-bitty thing in and is book-sized so they can throw it in their bag to take to classes. My DS lived by his freshman year. They have so much going on, they really need something to write it all down in and keep track of. Assignments, due dates, meetings, parties etc....
Some kind of wipe board to put on the outside of his dorm door. The ones that have wipe board on half and cork board on the other half are very popular. They write messages to each other on one side and stick pictures on the other side.
I know you said no GC's, but one to Wal-Mart, Staples or the local grocery store where he'll be is really appreciated once they get there.
If you know him well and his parnets have a sense of humor, you could make him a "hang-over kit". Tylenol, ice pack, crackers and ginger-ale. Seriously, a care package of health items is great. He will get sick, and no one wants to go to health services when they've got diarrhea. Imodium, Tylenol, Pepto, cold medicine, Band-Aids etc...are all great to send him with.
Girls are so much easier to buy for.
Sometimes college-age boys need reminders about doing their own laundry!!! 
