diff --git a/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_course_about.scss b/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_course_about.scss
index f96d12f7a3..de09505252 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_course_about.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_course_about.scss
@@ -27,14 +27,17 @@
       max-width: 1200px;
       min-width: 760px;
       position: relative;
-      width: 100%;
       z-index: 2;
 
-
+      > div.table {
+        display: table;
+        width: 100%;
+      }
       .intro {
         @include box-sizing(border-box);
         @include clearfix;
-        float: left;
+        display: table-cell;
+        vertical-align: middle;
         padding: 20px 20px;
         position: relative;
         width: flex-grid(8) + flex-gutter();
@@ -130,9 +133,7 @@
       .media {
         background: transparent;
         @include box-sizing(border-box);
-        display: block;
-        float: right;
-        height: 180px;
+        display: table-cell;
         padding: 20px;
         position: relative;
         width: flex-grid(4);
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_dashboard.scss b/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_dashboard.scss
index a3d21cb1b3..9c2b71f5c0 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_dashboard.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_dashboard.scss
@@ -2,6 +2,27 @@
   @include clearfix;
   padding: 60px 0px 120px;
 
+  .dashboard-banner {
+    background: $yellow;
+    border: 1px solid rgb(200,200,200);
+    @include box-shadow(0 1px 0 0 rgba(255,255,255, 0.6));
+    padding: 10px;
+    margin-bottom: 30px;
+
+    &:empty {
+      display: none;
+      background-color: #FFF;
+    }
+
+    h2 {
+      margin-bottom: 0;
+    }
+
+    p {
+      margin-bottom: 0;
+    }
+  }
+
   .profile-sidebar {
     background: transparent;
     float: left;
diff --git a/lms/templates/dashboard.html b/lms/templates/dashboard.html
index b0d4308253..160b453853 100644
--- a/lms/templates/dashboard.html
+++ b/lms/templates/dashboard.html
@@ -34,10 +34,11 @@
 
 <section class="container dashboard">
   
-  <section class="dashboard-banner">
-    ${message}
-    <br/>
-  </section>
+  %if message:
+    <section class="dashboard-banner">
+      ${message}
+    </section>
+  %endif
 
   <section class="profile-sidebar">
     <header class="profile">
diff --git a/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html b/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html
index bb00a6abf0..7780d939de 100644
--- a/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html
+++ b/lms/templates/portal/course_about.html
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 <section class="course-info">
   <header class="course-profile">
     <div class="intro-inner-wrapper">
+      <div class="table">
       <section class="intro">
         <hgroup>
           <h1>${course.number}: ${get_course_about_section(course, "title")}<a href="${reverse('university_profile', args=[course.org])}">${get_course_about_section(course, "university")}</a></h1>
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@
       </div>
       % endif
     </div>
+      </div>
   </header>
 
   <section class="container">