Regarding meetings: Thursdays are better for me than Tuesdays, but
Wednesdays are even better.

Regarding the Pass/No Pass problem, yes, I've seen the same thing. At
first I was very bothered by it. It is frustrating to make the effort
to grade their work and then see the P/NP on the grade sheet.

But now I have mellowed. I believe that students are responding in one
of the few ways that they have control ove. There is extreme external
pressure for high grades due to program requirements. In addition, many
have little or no college experience which causes much anxiety.

So I support their option to choose. What I try to do is speak to it
on the first day, and then throughout the term. I remind them that they
have until the eighth week of the term to make that decision, and try to
assure them that they will have a pretty good idea of their grade by
that time. I don't try to change their minds. I just try to give them
what they need to make an informed, rather than a fearful, decision.

sg