I am a new teacher and have had an especially difficult time deciding how to approach late/missing assignments in my class. I teach English Composition in a culinary school and some of my classes are pass/fail. I received complaints last term for outlining a rigid late assignment policy and then not sticking to it. Essentially, one of my stronger students felt that more students should have failed the class based on turning in late work. I tried to give my students high expectations at the start of class in order to push them to do their best and be punctual, but as the term progressed I felt it was important to also show flexibility on my behalf. Is it possible to push students to turn everything in on time, but later show flexibility when that 10% fails to turn in their assignments? Is it possible to be both firm and flexible or must I choose one or the other? I just find late/missing work especially difficult to deal with when I am teaching a general education class that is graded pass/fail.