diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
index 2fcc953e52..6c68b7fed6 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import instructor_task.api
 from instructor_task.api_helper import AlreadyRunningError
 import instructor.enrollment as enrollment
 from instructor.enrollment import enroll_email, unenroll_email
+from instructor.views.tools import strip_if_string
 import instructor.access as access
 import analytics.basic
 import analytics.distributions
@@ -233,7 +234,7 @@ def modify_access(request, course_id):
         request.user, course_id, 'instructor', depth=None
     )
 
-    email = request.GET.get('email')
+    email = strip_if_string(request.GET.get('email'))
     rolename = request.GET.get('rolename')
     action = request.GET.get('action')
 
@@ -433,7 +434,7 @@ def get_student_progress_url(request, course_id):
         'progress_url': '/../...'
     }
     """
-    student_email = request.GET.get('student_email')
+    student_email = strip_if_string(request.GET.get('student_email'))
     user = User.objects.get(email=student_email)
 
     progress_url = reverse('student_progress', kwargs={'course_id': course_id, 'student_id': user.id})
@@ -474,8 +475,8 @@ def reset_student_attempts(request, course_id):
         request.user, course_id, 'staff', depth=None
     )
 
-    problem_to_reset = request.GET.get('problem_to_reset')
-    student_email = request.GET.get('student_email')
+    problem_to_reset = strip_if_string(request.GET.get('problem_to_reset'))
+    student_email = strip_if_string(request.GET.get('student_email'))
     all_students = request.GET.get('all_students', False) in ['true', 'True', True]
     delete_module = request.GET.get('delete_module', False) in ['true', 'True', True]
 
@@ -531,8 +532,8 @@ def rescore_problem(request, course_id):
 
     all_students and student_email cannot both be present.
     """
-    problem_to_reset = request.GET.get('problem_to_reset')
-    student_email = request.GET.get('student_email', False)
+    problem_to_reset = strip_if_string(request.GET.get('problem_to_reset'))
+    student_email = strip_if_string(request.GET.get('student_email', False))
     all_students = request.GET.get('all_students') in ['true', 'True', True]
 
     if not (problem_to_reset and (all_students or student_email)):
@@ -576,8 +577,8 @@ def list_instructor_tasks(request, course_id):
         - `problem_urlname` and `student_email` lists task
             history for problem AND student (intersection)
     """
-    problem_urlname = request.GET.get('problem_urlname', False)
-    student_email = request.GET.get('student_email', False)
+    problem_urlname = strip_if_string(request.GET.get('problem_urlname', False))
+    student_email = strip_if_string(request.GET.get('student_email', False))
 
     if student_email and not problem_urlname:
         return HttpResponseBadRequest(
@@ -693,7 +694,7 @@ def update_forum_role_membership(request, course_id):
         request.user, course_id, FORUM_ROLE_ADMINISTRATOR
     )
 
-    email = request.GET.get('email')
+    email = strip_if_string(request.GET.get('email'))
     rolename = request.GET.get('rolename')
     action = request.GET.get('action')
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py
index 3e9ff96f1c..9e77f55a29 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ from django_comment_common.models import (Role,
                                           FORUM_ROLE_COMMUNITY_TA)
 from django_comment_client.utils import has_forum_access
 from instructor.offline_gradecalc import student_grades, offline_grades_available
+from instructor.views.tools import strip_if_string
 from instructor_task.api import (get_running_instructor_tasks,
                                  get_instructor_task_history,
                                  submit_rescore_problem_for_all_students,
@@ -171,6 +172,9 @@ def instructor_dashboard(request, course_id):
         Form is either urlname or modulename/urlname.  If no modulename
         is provided, "problem" is assumed.
         """
+        # remove whitespace
+        urlname = strip_if_string(urlname)
+
         # tolerate an XML suffix in the urlname
         if urlname[-4:] == ".xml":
             urlname = urlname[:-4]
@@ -185,6 +189,7 @@ def instructor_dashboard(request, course_id):
 
     def get_student_from_identifier(unique_student_identifier):
         """Gets a student object using either an email address or username"""
+        unique_student_identifier = strip_if_string(unique_student_identifier)
         msg = ""
         try:
             if "@" in unique_student_identifier:
@@ -706,12 +711,14 @@ def instructor_dashboard(request, course_id):
         html_message = request.POST.get("message")
         text_message = html_to_text(html_message)
 
-        email = CourseEmail(course_id=course_id,
-                            sender=request.user,
-                            to_option=email_to_option,
-                            subject=email_subject,
-                            html_message=html_message,
-                            text_message=text_message)
+        email = CourseEmail(
+            course_id=course_id,
+            sender=request.user,
+            to_option=email_to_option,
+            subject=email_subject,
+            html_message=html_message,
+            text_message=text_message
+        )
 
         email.save()
 
@@ -994,6 +1001,7 @@ def _add_or_remove_user_group(request, username_or_email, group, group_title, ev
     to do.
     """
     user = None
+    username_or_email = strip_if_string(username_or_email)
     try:
         if '@' in username_or_email:
             user = User.objects.get(email=username_or_email)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..11fc135976
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+"""
+Tools for the instructor dashboard
+"""
+def strip_if_string(value):
+    if isinstance(value, basestring):
+        return value.strip()
+    return value