diff --git a/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/alert.underscore b/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/alert.underscore
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..35fe9133d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/alert.underscore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../../templates/js/alert.underscore
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/notification.underscore b/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/notification.underscore
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..71b1ba2d89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/notification.underscore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../../templates/js/notification.underscore
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/prompt.underscore b/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/prompt.underscore
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..c4be9fdc58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/prompt.underscore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../../templates/js/prompt.underscore
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/system-feedback.underscore b/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/system-feedback.underscore
deleted file mode 120000
index 10893f87c4..0000000000
--- a/cms/static/coffee/fixtures/system-feedback.underscore
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-../../../templates/js/system-feedback.underscore
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cms/static/coffee/spec/models/feedback_spec.coffee b/cms/static/coffee/spec/models/feedback_spec.coffee
index b878be0dc7..f5694055d1 100644
--- a/cms/static/coffee/spec/models/feedback_spec.coffee
+++ b/cms/static/coffee/spec/models/feedback_spec.coffee
@@ -11,18 +11,6 @@ describe "CMS.Models.SystemFeedback", ->
   it "should not have a type set by default", ->
     expect(@model.get("type")).toBeNull()
 
-  it "should be shown by default", ->
-    expect(@model.get("shown")).toEqual(true)
-
-  it "should trigger a change event on calling .hide()", ->
-    spy = jasmine.createSpy()
-    @model.on("change", spy)
-
-    @model.hide()
-
-    expect(@model.get("shown")).toEqual(false)
-    expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalled()
-
 
 describe "CMS.Models.WarningMessage", ->
   beforeEach ->
diff --git a/cms/static/coffee/spec/views/feedback_spec.coffee b/cms/static/coffee/spec/views/feedback_spec.coffee
index b8d0d269da..41f8c52f43 100644
--- a/cms/static/coffee/spec/views/feedback_spec.coffee
+++ b/cms/static/coffee/spec/views/feedback_spec.coffee
@@ -1,29 +1,23 @@
-describe "CMS.Views.SystemFeedback", ->
-  tpl = readFixtures('system-feedback.underscore')
-  # CMS.Views.SystemFeedback looks for a template on the page when the code
-  # is loaded, and even if we set that template on the page using a fixture,
-  # CMS.Views.SystemFeedback has already been loaded, and so that template
-  # won't be picked up. This is a dirty hack, to load that template into
-  # the code after the code has been loaded already.
-  CMS.Views.SystemFeedback.prototype.template = _.template(tpl)
+describe "CMS.Views.Alert as base class", ->
+  tpl = readFixtures('alert.underscore')
 
   beforeEach ->
-    setFixtures(sandbox({id: "page-notification"}))
+    setFixtures(sandbox({id: "page-alert"}))
+    appendSetFixtures($("<script>", {id: "alert-tpl", type: "text/template"}).text(tpl))
 
     @model = new CMS.Models.ConfirmationMessage({
       "title": "Portal"
       "message": "Welcome to the Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Center"
-      close: true
     })
     # it will be interesting to see when this.render is called, so lets spy on it
-    spyOn(CMS.Views.SystemFeedback.prototype, 'render').andCallThrough()
+    spyOn(CMS.Views.Alert.prototype, 'render').andCallThrough()
 
   it "renders on initalize", ->
-    view = new CMS.Views.Notification({model: @model})
+    view = new CMS.Views.Alert({model: @model})
     expect(view.render).toHaveBeenCalled()
 
   it "renders the template", ->
-    view = new CMS.Views.Notification({model: @model})
+    view = new CMS.Views.Alert({model: @model})
     expect(view.$(".action-close")).toBeDefined()
     expect(view.$('.wrapper')).toHaveClass("is-shown")
     text = view.$el.text()
@@ -31,26 +25,40 @@ describe "CMS.Views.SystemFeedback", ->
     expect(text).toMatch(/Aperture Science/)
 
   it "close button sends a .hide() message", ->
-    spyOn(CMS.Views.SystemFeedback.prototype, 'hide').andCallThrough()
+    spyOn(CMS.Views.Alert.prototype, 'hide').andCallThrough()
 
-    view = new CMS.Views.Notification({model: @model})
+    view = new CMS.Views.Alert({model: @model})
     view.$(".action-close").click()
 
-    expect(CMS.Views.SystemFeedback.prototype.hide).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(CMS.Views.Alert.prototype.hide).toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(view.$('.wrapper')).not.toHaveClass("is-shown")
     expect(view.$('.wrapper')).toHaveClass("is-hiding")
 
+describe "CMS.Views.Notification", ->
+  tpl = readFixtures('notification.underscore')
+
+  beforeEach ->
+    setFixtures(sandbox({id: "page-notification"}))
+    appendSetFixtures($("<script>", {id: "notification-tpl", type: "text/template"}).text(tpl))
+
+    @model = new CMS.Models.ConfirmationMessage({
+      "title": "Portal"
+      "message": "Welcome to the Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Center"
+    })
+
   # for some reason, expect($("body")) blows up the test runner, so this test
   # just exercises the Prompt rather than asserting on anything. Best I can
   # do for now. :(
-  it "prompt view changes class on body", ->
+  it "changes class on body", ->
     # expect($("body")).not.toHaveClass("prompt-is-shown")
     view = new CMS.Views.Prompt({model: @model})
     # expect($("body")).toHaveClass("prompt-is-shown")
-    @model.hide()
+    view.hide()
     # expect($("body")).not.toHaveClass("prompt-is-shown")
 
-describe "SystemFeedback click events", ->
+describe "CMS.Views.Alert click events", ->
+  tpl = readFixtures('alert.underscore')
+
   beforeEach ->
     @model = new CMS.Models.WarningMessage(
       title: "Unsaved",
@@ -69,6 +77,7 @@ describe "SystemFeedback click events", ->
       )
 
     setFixtures(sandbox({id: "page-alert"}))
+    appendSetFixtures($("<script>", {id: "alert-tpl", type: "text/template"}).text(tpl))
     @view = new CMS.Views.Alert({model: @model})
 
   it "should trigger the primary event on a primary click", ->
diff --git a/cms/static/js/models/feedback.js b/cms/static/js/models/feedback.js
index 65de44115d..d303435c80 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/models/feedback.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/models/feedback.js
@@ -2,11 +2,7 @@ CMS.Models.SystemFeedback = Backbone.Model.extend({
     defaults: {
         "type": null,  // "warning", "confirmation", "error", "announcement", "step-required", etc
         "title": "",
-        "message": "",
-        "shown": true,
-        "close": false,  // show a close button?
-        "icon": true,  // show an icon?
-        "status": false  // example: "saving" popup
+        "message": ""
         /* could also have an "actions" hash: here is an example demonstrating
            the expected structure
         "actions": {
@@ -31,12 +27,6 @@ CMS.Models.SystemFeedback = Backbone.Model.extend({
             ]
         }
         */
-    },
-    show: function() {
-        this.set("shown", true);
-    },
-    hide: function() {
-        this.set("shown", false);
     }
 });
 
diff --git a/cms/static/js/models/section.js b/cms/static/js/models/section.js
index 6dcccf7f90..50adecbb5e 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/models/section.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/models/section.js
@@ -25,18 +25,19 @@ CMS.Models.Section = Backbone.Model.extend({
         if(!this.msg) {
             this.msg = new CMS.Models.SystemFeedback({
                 type: "saving",
-                title: "Saving&hellip;",
-                icon: true,
-                status: true
+                title: "Saving&hellip;"
             });
         }
         if(!this.msgView) {
-            this.msgView = new CMS.Views.Notification({model: this.msg});
+            this.msgView = new CMS.Views.Notification({
+                model: this.msg,
+                closeIcon: false
+            });
         }
-        this.msg.show();
+        this.msgView.show();
     },
     hideNotification: function() {
-        if(!this.msg) { return; }
-        this.msg.hide();
+        if(!this.msgView) { return; }
+        this.msgView.hide();
     }
 });
diff --git a/cms/static/js/views/feedback.js b/cms/static/js/views/feedback.js
index 5f23a03196..d821ac8b18 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/views/feedback.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/views/feedback.js
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
-CMS.Views.SystemFeedback = Backbone.View.extend({
+CMS.Views.Alert = Backbone.View.extend({
+    options: {
+        type: "alert",
+        shown: true,  // is this view currently being shown?
+        closeIcon: true  // should we render a close button in the top right corner?
+    },
     initialize: function() {
-        this.setElement($("#page-"+this.type));
+        this.template = _.template($("#"+this.options.type+"-tpl").text()),
+        this.setElement($("#page-"+this.options.type));
         this.listenTo(this.model, 'change', this.render);
         return this.render();
     },
-    template: _.template($("#system-feedback-tpl").text()),
     render: function() {
-        var attrs = $.extend({}, this.model.attributes);
-        if(attrs.type) {
-            attrs.modelType = attrs.type;
-            delete attrs.type;
-        }
-        attrs.viewType = this.type;
+        var attrs = $.extend({}, this.options, this.model.attributes);
         this.$el.html(this.template(attrs));
         return this;
     },
@@ -20,8 +20,13 @@ CMS.Views.SystemFeedback = Backbone.View.extend({
         "click .action-primary": "primaryClick",
         "click .action-secondary": "secondaryClick"
     },
+    show: function() {
+        this.options.shown = true;
+        return this.render();
+    },
     hide: function() {
-        this.model.hide();
+        this.options.shown = false;
+        return this.render();
     },
     primaryClick: function() {
         var actions = this.model.get("actions");
@@ -29,7 +34,7 @@ CMS.Views.SystemFeedback = Backbone.View.extend({
         var primary = actions.primary;
         if(!primary) { return; }
         if(primary.click) {
-            primary.click.call(this.model);
+            primary.click.call(this.model, this);
         }
     },
     secondaryClick: function(e) {
@@ -46,19 +51,22 @@ CMS.Views.SystemFeedback = Backbone.View.extend({
         }
         var secondary = this.model.get("actions").secondary[i];
         if(secondary.click) {
-            secondary.click.call(this.model);
+            secondary.click.call(this.model, this);
         }
     }
 });
 
-CMS.Views.Alert = CMS.Views.SystemFeedback.extend({
-    type: "alert"
+CMS.Views.Notification = CMS.Views.Alert.extend({
+    options: $.extend({}, CMS.Views.Alert.prototype.options, {
+        type: "notification",
+        closeIcon: false
+    })
 });
-CMS.Views.Notification = CMS.Views.SystemFeedback.extend({
-    type: "notification"
-});
-CMS.Views.Prompt = CMS.Views.SystemFeedback.extend({
-    type: "prompt",
+CMS.Views.Prompt = CMS.Views.Alert.extend({
+    options: $.extend({}, CMS.Views.Alert.prototype.options, {
+        type: "prompt",
+        closeIcon: false
+    }),
     render: function() {
         if(!window.$body) { window.$body = $(document.body); }
         if(this.model.get('shown')) {
@@ -67,6 +75,6 @@ CMS.Views.Prompt = CMS.Views.SystemFeedback.extend({
             $body.removeClass('prompt-is-shown');
         }
         // super() in Javascript has awkward syntax :(
-        return CMS.Views.SystemFeedback.prototype.render.apply(this, arguments);
+        return CMS.Views.Alert.prototype.render.apply(this, arguments);
     }
 });
diff --git a/cms/templates/base.html b/cms/templates/base.html
index d3dbdcd68c..fd8f517a06 100644
--- a/cms/templates/base.html
+++ b/cms/templates/base.html
@@ -32,8 +32,14 @@
     <%include file="courseware_vendor_js.html"/>
 
     ## js templates
-    <script id="system-feedback-tpl" type="text/template">
-      <%static:include path="js/system-feedback.underscore" />
+    <script id="alert-tpl" type="text/template">
+      <%static:include path="js/alert.underscore" />
+    </script>
+    <script id="notification-tpl" type="text/template">
+      <%static:include path="js/notification.underscore" />
+    </script>
+    <script id="prompt-tpl" type="text/template">
+      <%static:include path="js/prompt.underscore" />
     </script>
 
     ## javascript
@@ -68,8 +74,8 @@ $(document).ajaxError(function(event, jqXHR, ajaxSettings, thrownError) {
         "actions": {
             "primary": {
                 "text": "Dismiss",
-                "click": function() {
-                    this.hide();
+                "click": function(view) {
+                    view.hide();
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/cms/templates/js/alert.underscore b/cms/templates/js/alert.underscore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..908c00eebb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/templates/js/alert.underscore
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+<div class="wrapper wrapper-alert wrapper-alert-<%= type %>
+            <% if(obj.shown) { %>is-shown<% } else { %>is-hiding<% } %>
+     id="alert-<%= type %>"
+     aria-hidden="<% if(obj.shown) { %>false<% } else { %>true<% } %>"
+     aria-labelledby="alert-<%= type %>-title"
+     <% if (obj.message) { %>aria-describedby="alert-<%= type %>-description" <% } %>
+     <% if (obj.actions) { %>role="dialog"<% } %>
+  >
+  <div class="alert <%= type %> <% if(obj.actions) { %>has-actions<% } %>">
+    <% var iconText = {"warning": "&#x26A0;", "confirmation": "&#x2713;", "error": "&#x26A0;", "announcement": "&#x1F4E2;", "step-required": "&#xE0D1", "help": "&#x2753;", "saving": "&#x2699;"} %>
+    <i class="ss-icon ss-symbolicons-block icon icon-<%= type %>"><%= iconText[type] %></i>
+
+    <div class="copy">
+      <h2 class="title title-3" id="alert-<%= type %>-title"><%= title %></h2>
+      <% if(obj.message) { %><p class="message" id="alert-<%= type %>-description"><%= message %></p><% } %>
+    </div>
+
+    <% if(obj.actions) { %>
+    <nav class="nav-actions">
+      <h3 class="sr">Alert Actions</h3>
+      <ul>
+        <% if(actions.primary) { %>
+        <li class="nav-item">
+          <a href="#" class="button action-primary <%= actions.primary.class %>"><%= actions.primary.text %></a>
+        </li>
+        <% } %>
+        <% if(actions.secondary) {
+             _.each(actions.secondary, function(secondary) { %>
+        <li class="nav-item">
+          <a href="#" class="button action-secondary <%= secondary.class %>"><%= secondary.text %></a>
+        </li>
+        <%   });
+           } %>
+      </ul>
+    </nav>
+    <% } %>
+
+    <% if(obj.closeIcon) { %>
+    <a href="#" rel="view" class="action action-close action-alert-close">
+      <i class="ss-icon ss-symbolicons-block icon icon-close">&#x2421;</i>
+      <span class="label">close alert</span>
+    </a>
+    <% } %>
+  </div>
+</div>
diff --git a/cms/templates/js/notification.underscore b/cms/templates/js/notification.underscore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f91e4ddd3f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/templates/js/notification.underscore
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+<div class="wrapper wrapper-notification wrapper-notification-<%= type %>
+            <% if(obj.shown) { %>is-shown<% } else { %>is-hiding<% } %>
+            <% if(_.contains(['help', 'saving'], type)) { %>wrapper-notification-status<% } %>"
+     id="notification-<%= type %>"
+     aria-hidden="<% if(obj.shown) { %>false<% } else { %>true<% } %>"
+     aria-labelledby="notification-<%= type %>-title"
+     <% if (obj.message) { %>aria-describedby="notification-<%= type %>-description" <% } %>
+     <% if (obj.actions) { %>role="dialog"<% } %>
+  >
+  <div class="notification <%= type %> <% if(obj.actions) { %>has-actions<% } %>">
+    <% var iconText = {"warning": "&#x26A0;", "confirmation": "&#x2713;", "error": "&#x26A0;", "announcement": "&#x1F4E2;", "step-required": "&#xE0D1", "help": "&#x2753;", "saving": "&#x2699;"} %>
+    <i class="ss-icon ss-symbolicons-block icon icon-<%= type %>"><%= iconText[type] %></i>
+
+    <div class="copy">
+      <h2 class="title title-3" id="notification-<%= type %>-title"><%= title %></h2>
+      <% if(obj.message) { %><p class="message" id="notification-<%= type %>-description"><%= message %></p><% } %>
+    </div>
+
+    <% if(obj.actions) { %>
+    <nav class="nav-actions">
+      <h3 class="sr">Notification Actions</h3>
+      <ul>
+        <% if(actions.primary) { %>
+        <li class="nav-item">
+          <a href="#" class="button action-primary <%= actions.primary.class %>"><%= actions.primary.text %></a>
+        </li>
+        <% } %>
+        <% if(actions.secondary) {
+             _.each(actions.secondary, function(secondary) { %>
+        <li class="nav-item">
+          <a href="#" class="button action-secondary <%= secondary.class %>"><%= secondary.text %></a>
+        </li>
+        <%   });
+           } %>
+      </ul>
+    </nav>
+    <% } %>
+
+    <% if(obj.closeIcon) { %>
+    <a href="#" rel="view" class="action action-close action-notification-close">
+      <i class="ss-icon ss-symbolicons-block icon icon-close">&#x2421;</i>
+      <span class="label">close notification</span>
+    </a>
+    <% } %>
+  </div>
+</div>
diff --git a/cms/templates/js/prompt.underscore b/cms/templates/js/prompt.underscore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..93fe9c5c49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/templates/js/prompt.underscore
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+<div class="wrapper wrapper-prompt wrapper-prompt-<%= type %>
+            <% if(obj.shown) { %>is-shown<% } else { %>is-hiding<% } %>
+     id="prompt-<%= type %>"
+     aria-hidden="<% if(obj.shown) { %>false<% } else { %>true<% } %>"
+     aria-labelledby="prompt-<%= type %>-title"
+     <% if (obj.message) { %>aria-describedby="prompt-<%= type %>-description" <% } %>
+     <% if (obj.actions) { %>role="dialog"<% } %>
+  >
+  <div class="prompt <%= type %> <% if(obj.actions) { %>has-actions<% } %>">
+    <div class="copy">
+      <h2 class="title title-3" id="prompt-<%= type %>-title"><%= title %></h2>
+      <% if(obj.message) { %><p class="message" id="prompt-<%= type %>-description"><%= message %></p><% } %>
+    </div>
+
+    <% if(obj.actions) { %>
+    <nav class="nav-actions">
+      <h3 class="sr">Prompt Actions</h3>
+      <ul>
+        <% if(actions.primary) { %>
+        <li class="nav-item">
+          <a href="#" class="button action-primary <%= actions.primary.class %>"><%= actions.primary.text %></a>
+        </li>
+        <% } %>
+        <% if(actions.secondary) {
+             _.each(actions.secondary, function(secondary) { %>
+        <li class="nav-item">
+          <a href="#" class="button action-secondary <%= secondary.class %>"><%= secondary.text %></a>
+        </li>
+        <%   });
+           } %>
+      </ul>
+    </nav>
+    <% } %>
+  </div>
+</div>
diff --git a/cms/templates/js/system-feedback.underscore b/cms/templates/js/system-feedback.underscore
deleted file mode 100644
index 3dcf477c6f..0000000000
--- a/cms/templates/js/system-feedback.underscore
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
-<div class="wrapper
-            wrapper-<%= viewType %>
-            wrapper-<%= viewType %>-<%= modelType %>
-            <% if(obj.status) { %>wrapper-<%= viewType %>-status <% } %>
-            <% if(obj.shown) { %>is-shown<% } else { %>is-hiding<% } %>
-            <% if(obj.fleeting) { %>is-fleeting<% } %>"
-     id="<%= viewType %>-<%= modelType %>"
-     aria-hidden="<% if(obj.shown) { %>false<% } else { %>true<% } %>"
-     aria-labelledby="<%= viewType %>-<%= modelType %>-title"
-     <% if (obj.message) { %>aria-describedby="<%= viewType %>-<%= modelType %>-description" <% } %>
-     <% if (obj.actions) { %>role="dialog"<% } %>
-  >
-  <div class="<%= modelType %> <%= viewType %> <% if(obj.actions) { %>has-actions <% } %>">
-    <% if (icon) { %>
-      <% var iconText = {"warning": "&#x26A0;", "confirmation": "&#x2713;", "error": "&#x26A0;", "announcement": "&#x1F4E2;", "step-required": "&#xE0D1", "help": "&#x2753;", "saving": "&#x2699;"} %>
-      <i class="ss-icon ss-symbolicons-block icon icon-<%= modelType %>"><%= iconText[modelType] %></i>
-    <% } %>
-
-    <div class="copy">
-      <h2 class="title title-3" id="<%= viewType %>-<%= modelType %>-title"><%= title %></h2>
-      <% if(obj.message) { %><p class="message" id="<%= viewType %>-<%= modelType %>-description"><%= message %></p><% } %>
-    </div>
-
-    <% if(obj.actions) { %>
-    <nav class="nav-actions">
-      <h3 class="sr"><%= viewType %> Actions</h3>
-      <ul>
-        <% if(actions.primary) { %>
-        <li class="nav-item">
-          <a href="#" class="button action-primary <%= actions.primary.class %>"><%= actions.primary.text %></a>
-        </li>
-        <% } %>
-        <% if(actions.secondary) {
-             _.each(actions.secondary, function(secondary) { %>
-        <li class="nav-item">
-          <a href="#" class="button action-secondary <%= secondary.class %>"><%= secondary.text %></a>
-        </li>
-        <%   });
-           } %>
-      </ul>
-    </nav>
-    <% } %>
-
-    <% if(obj.close) { %>
-    <a href="#" rel="view" class="action action-close action-<%= viewType %>-close">
-      <i class="ss-icon ss-symbolicons-block icon icon-close">&#x2421;</i>
-      <span class="label">close <%= viewType %></span>
-    </a>
-    <% } %>
-  </div>
-</div>