diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/course_creators/models.py b/cms/djangoapps/course_creators/models.py
index 607dae4af2..31bcbc5611 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/course_creators/models.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/course_creators/models.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class CourseCreator(models.Model):
                                                                     "why course creation access was denied)"))
 
     def __unicode__(self):
-        return u'%str | %str [%str] | %str' % (self.user, self.state, self.state_changed, self.note)
+        return u'%s | %s [%s]' % (self.user, self.state, self.state_changed)
 
 
 @receiver(post_init, sender=CourseCreator)
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/course_creators/views.py b/cms/djangoapps/course_creators/views.py
index 902406e620..2eb8055148 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/course_creators/views.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/course_creators/views.py
@@ -2,19 +2,18 @@
 Methods for interacting programmatically with the user creator table.
 """
 from course_creators.models import CourseCreator
-from django.core.exceptions import PermissionDenied
 
 from auth.authz import add_user_to_creator_group, remove_user_from_creator_group
 
 
-def add_user_with_status_unrequested(caller, user):
+def add_user_with_status_unrequested(user):
     """
     Adds a user to the course creator table with status 'unrequested'.
 
     If the user is already in the table, this method is a no-op
-    (state will not be changed). Caller must have staff permissions.
+    (state will not be changed).
     """
-    _add_user(caller, user, CourseCreator.UNREQUESTED)
+    _add_user(user, CourseCreator.UNREQUESTED)
 
 
 def add_user_with_status_granted(caller, user):
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ def add_user_with_status_granted(caller, user):
 
     This method also adds the user to the course creator group maintained by authz.py.
     """
-    _add_user(caller, user, CourseCreator.GRANTED)
+    _add_user(user, CourseCreator.GRANTED)
     update_course_creator_group(caller, user, True)
 
 
@@ -61,16 +60,13 @@ def get_course_creator_status(user):
         return user[0].state
 
 
-def _add_user(caller, user, state):
+def _add_user(user, state):
     """
     Adds a user to the course creator table with the specified state.
 
     If the user is already in the table, this method is a no-op
     (state will not be changed).
     """
-    if not caller.is_active or not caller.is_authenticated or not caller.is_staff:
-        raise PermissionDenied
-
     if CourseCreator.objects.filter(user=user).count() == 0:
         entry = CourseCreator(user=user, state=state)
         entry.save()
diff --git a/cms/static/sass/_base.scss b/cms/static/sass/_base.scss
index fe107d7511..e9b01509fe 100644
--- a/cms/static/sass/_base.scss
+++ b/cms/static/sass/_base.scss
@@ -446,6 +446,24 @@ p, ul, ol, dl {
       }
     }
 
+    // actions
+    .list-actions {
+      @extend .no-list;
+
+      .action-item {
+        margin-bottom: ($baseline/4);
+        border-bottom: 1px dotted $gray-l4;
+        padding-bottom: ($baseline/4);
+
+
+        &:last-child {
+          margin-bottom: 0;
+          border: none;
+          padding-bottom: 0;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
     // navigation
     .nav-related, .nav-page {
 
diff --git a/cms/static/sass/elements/_system-help.scss b/cms/static/sass/elements/_system-help.scss
index ca8fa38154..0f90d9db5c 100644
--- a/cms/static/sass/elements/_system-help.scss
+++ b/cms/static/sass/elements/_system-help.scss
@@ -104,6 +104,22 @@
       }
     }
   }
+
+  // list of notices all in one
+  &.list-notices {
+
+    .notice-item {
+      margin-bottom: $baseline;
+      border-bottom: 1px solid $gray-l3;
+      padding-bottom: $baseline;
+
+      &:last-child {
+        margin-bottom: 0;
+        border: none;
+        padding-bottom: 0;
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 // particular notice - warnings around a workflow for something
@@ -128,11 +144,11 @@
   background-color: $gray-l4;
 
   .title {
-    color: $gray-d1;
+    color: $gray-d3;
   }
 
   .copy {
-    color: $gray;
+    color: $gray-d2;
   }
 
   &.has-actions {
diff --git a/cms/static/sass/views/_dashboard.scss b/cms/static/sass/views/_dashboard.scss
index 7132874c14..b00306e5c5 100644
--- a/cms/static/sass/views/_dashboard.scss
+++ b/cms/static/sass/views/_dashboard.scss
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ body.dashboard {
 		width: flexgrid(9, 9);
 
 	  // CASE: notice has actions {
-	  &.has-actions {
+	  &.has-actions, &.list-notices .notice-item.has-actions {
 
 	    .msg, .list-actions {
 	      display: inline-block;
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ body.dashboard {
 
 	      .action-create-course {
 	      	@extend .btn-primary-green;
+	      	@extend .t-action3;
 	      }
 	    }
 	  }
@@ -66,8 +67,8 @@ body.dashboard {
 
 
 
-	// elements - authorship controls
-	.wrapper-authorshiprights {
+	// elements - course creation rights controls
+	.wrapper-creationrights {
 		overflow: hidden;
 
 		.ui-toggle-control {
@@ -129,8 +130,8 @@ body.dashboard {
 
 	}
 
-	// elements - authorship controls
-	.status-authorship {
+	// elements - course creation rights controls
+	.status-creationrights {
 		margin-top: $baseline;
 
 		.title {
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ body.dashboard {
 
 		}
 
-		.list-actions {
+		.list-actions, .form-actions {
       margin-top: ($baseline*0.75);
 
       .action-item {
@@ -253,10 +254,10 @@ body.dashboard {
 	}
 
 	.class-list {
-		margin-top: 20px;
+		margin-top: $baseline;
 		border-radius: 3px;
-		border: 1px solid $darkGrey;
-		background: #fff;
+		border: 1px solid $gray-d2;
+		background: $white;
 		box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0, 0, 0, .1);
 
 		li {