diff --git a/cms/static/js/models/course_update.js b/cms/static/js/models/course_update.js
index 65907fb0fe..936ce70a9d 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/models/course_update.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/models/course_update.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ define(["backbone", "jquery", "jquery.ui"], function(Backbone, $) {
             var date_exists = (attrs.date !== null && attrs.date !== "");
             var date_is_valid_string = ($.datepicker.formatDate('MM d, yy', new Date(attrs.date)) === attrs.date);
             if (!(date_exists && date_is_valid_string)) {
-                return {"date_required": gettext("This field must contain a valid date.")};
+                return {"date_required": gettext("Action required: Enter a valid date.")};
             }
         }
     });
diff --git a/cms/static/sass/views/_updates.scss b/cms/static/sass/views/_updates.scss
index 63512cb21f..8124e4aa20 100644
--- a/cms/static/sass/views/_updates.scss
+++ b/cms/static/sass/views/_updates.scss
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@
       line-height: 30px;
       color: #646464;
       letter-spacing: 1px;
-      text-transform: uppercase;
     }
 
     h3 {
@@ -75,11 +74,21 @@
       margin: 34px 0 11px;
     }
 
+    .display-date {
+        padding-right: 15px;
+    }
+
     .message-error {
-      @extend %t-copy-sub1;
-      margin-top: ($baseline/4);
-      margin-bottom: ($baseline/2);
-      color: $red;
+        display: inline-block;
+        font-weight: normal;
+        font-size: 1.2em;
+
+        &:before {
+            content: "\f06a";
+            font-family: FontAwesome;
+            color: #fdbc56;
+            padding: 5px;
+        }
     }
   }