diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/views/dashboard.py b/common/djangoapps/student/views/dashboard.py
index b40477b444..6b64f1dcec 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/views/dashboard.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/views/dashboard.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ from openedx.core.djangoapps.programs.utils import ProgramDataExtender, ProgramP
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.site_configuration import helpers as configuration_helpers
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.util.maintenance_banner import add_maintenance_banner
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.waffle_utils import WaffleFlag, WaffleFlagNamespace
+from openedx.core.djangolib.markup import HTML, Text
 from openedx.features.enterprise_support.api import get_dashboard_consent_notification
 from shoppingcart.api import order_history
 from shoppingcart.models import CourseRegistrationCode, DonationConfiguration
@@ -609,16 +610,21 @@ def student_dashboard(request):
     )
     course_optouts = Optout.objects.filter(user=user).values_list('course_id', flat=True)
 
-    # Display activation message in sidebar
-    sidebar_account_activation_message = ''
+    # Display activation message
+    activate_account_message = ''
     if not user.is_active:
-        sidebar_account_activation_message = render_to_string(
-            'registration/account_activation_sidebar_notice.html',
-            {
-                'email': user.email,
-                'platform_name': platform_name,
-                'activation_email_support_link': activation_email_support_link
-            }
+        activate_account_message = Text(_(
+          "Check your {email_start}{email}{email_end} inbox for an account activation link from {platform_name}. "
+          "If you need help, contact {link_start}{platform_name} Support{link_end}."
+        )).format(
+          platform_name=platform_name,
+          email_start=HTML("<strong>"),
+          email_end=HTML("</strong>"),
+          email=user.email,
+          link_start=HTML("<a target='_blank' href='{activation_email_support_link}'>").format(
+            activation_email_support_link=activation_email_support_link,
+          ),
+          link_end=HTML("</a>"),
         )
 
     enterprise_message = get_dashboard_consent_notification(request, user, course_enrollments)
@@ -784,12 +790,12 @@ def student_dashboard(request):
         'enrollment_message': enrollment_message,
         'redirect_message': redirect_message,
         'account_activation_messages': account_activation_messages,
+        'activate_account_message': activate_account_message,
         'course_enrollments': course_enrollments,
         'course_entitlements': course_entitlements,
         'course_entitlement_available_sessions': course_entitlement_available_sessions,
         'unfulfilled_entitlement_pseudo_sessions': unfulfilled_entitlement_pseudo_sessions,
         'course_optouts': course_optouts,
-        'sidebar_account_activation_message': sidebar_account_activation_message,
         'staff_access': staff_access,
         'errored_courses': errored_courses,
         'show_courseware_links_for': show_courseware_links_for,
@@ -819,6 +825,7 @@ def student_dashboard(request):
         'disable_courseware_js': True,
         'display_course_modes_on_dashboard': enable_verified_certificates and display_course_modes_on_dashboard,
         'display_sidebar_on_dashboard': display_sidebar_on_dashboard,
+        'display_sidebar_account_activation_message': (not user.is_active and not hide_dashboard_courses_until_activated),
         'display_dashboard_courses': (user.is_active or not hide_dashboard_courses_until_activated),
         'empty_dashboard_message': empty_dashboard_message,
     }
diff --git a/lms/templates/dashboard.html b/lms/templates/dashboard.html
index e520894571..5369c2e9f2 100644
--- a/lms/templates/dashboard.html
+++ b/lms/templates/dashboard.html
@@ -122,10 +122,11 @@ from student.models import CourseEnrollment
 
 <main id="main" aria-label="Content" tabindex="-1">
     <div class="dashboard" id="dashboard-main">
-      % if display_dashboard_courses:
       <div class="main-container">
         <div class="my-courses" id="my-courses">
+          % if display_dashboard_courses:
           <%include file="learner_dashboard/_dashboard_navigation_courses.html"/>
+          % endif
 
           % if len(course_entitlements + course_enrollments) > 0:
             <ul class="listing-courses">
@@ -195,16 +196,20 @@ from student.models import CourseEnrollment
             </ul>
           % else:
             <div class="empty-dashboard-message">
-              <p>${_("You are not enrolled in any courses yet.")}</p>
-              % if empty_dashboard_message:
-                <p class="custom-message">${empty_dashboard_message | n, decode.utf8}</p>
-              %endif
-              % if settings.FEATURES.get('COURSES_ARE_BROWSABLE'):
-                <a class="btn btn-primary" href="${marketing_link('COURSES')}">
-                  ${_("Explore courses")}
-                </a>
-
-              %endif
+              % if display_dashboard_courses:
+                <p>${_("You are not enrolled in any courses yet.")}</p>
+                % if empty_dashboard_message:
+                  <p class="custom-message">${empty_dashboard_message | n, decode.utf8}</p>
+                %endif
+                % if settings.FEATURES.get('COURSES_ARE_BROWSABLE'):
+                  <a class="btn btn-primary" href="${marketing_link('COURSES')}">
+                    ${_("Explore courses")}
+                  </a>
+                %endif
+              % else:
+              <p>${_("Activate your account!")}</p>
+              <p class="custom-message">${ activate_account_message | n, decode.utf8 }</p>
+              % endif
           </div>
           % endif
 
@@ -226,11 +231,10 @@ from student.models import CourseEnrollment
           % endif
         </div>
       </div>
-      % endif
       <div class="side-container">
-        %if sidebar_account_activation_message:
+        %if display_sidebar_account_activation_message:
           <div class="sidebar-notification">
-            ${sidebar_account_activation_message | n, decode.utf8}
+            <%include file="${static.get_template_path('registration/account_activation_sidebar_notice.html')}" />
           </div>
         %endif
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/registration/account_activation_sidebar_notice.html b/lms/templates/registration/account_activation_sidebar_notice.html
index 5fc1a8ca75..be474707d2 100644
--- a/lms/templates/registration/account_activation_sidebar_notice.html
+++ b/lms/templates/registration/account_activation_sidebar_notice.html
@@ -15,20 +15,7 @@ from openedx.core.djangolib.markup import HTML, Text
           <span class="sr">Notice</span>
           ${_("Activate your account!")}
         </span>
-        <p class="status-note">${Text(_(
-          "Check your {email_start}{email}{email_end} inbox for an account activation link from {platform_name}. "
-          "If you need help, contact {link_start}{platform_name} Support{link_end}."
-        )).format(
-          platform_name=platform_name,
-          email_start=HTML("<strong>"),
-          email_end=HTML("</strong>"),
-          email=email,
-          link_start=HTML("<a target='_blank' href='{activation_email_support_link}'>").format(
-            activation_email_support_link=activation_email_support_link,
-          ),
-          link_end=HTML("</a>"),
-        )}
-        </p>
+        <p class="status-note">${ activate_account_message | n, decode.utf8 }</p>
         ## TODO: Add resend activation email functionality.
         ## TODO: Implementation of this is part of ENT-353.
         ## <button class="btn btn-neutral"><i class="fa fa-envelope-o"></i> Resend Activation Email </button>