diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
index 9756b42ee6..6c68b7fed6 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
@@ -32,7 +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 _clean_field
+from instructor.views.tools import strip_if_string
 import instructor.access as access
 import analytics.basic
 import analytics.distributions
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ def modify_access(request, course_id):
         request.user, course_id, 'instructor', depth=None
     )
 
-    email = _clean_field(request.GET.get('email'))
+    email = strip_if_string(request.GET.get('email'))
     rolename = request.GET.get('rolename')
     action = request.GET.get('action')
 
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ def get_student_progress_url(request, course_id):
         'progress_url': '/../...'
     }
     """
-    student_email = _clean_field(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})
@@ -475,8 +475,8 @@ def reset_student_attempts(request, course_id):
         request.user, course_id, 'staff', depth=None
     )
 
-    problem_to_reset = _clean_field(request.GET.get('problem_to_reset'))
-    student_email = _clean_field(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]
 
@@ -532,8 +532,8 @@ def rescore_problem(request, course_id):
 
     all_students and student_email cannot both be present.
     """
-    problem_to_reset = _clean_field(request.GET.get('problem_to_reset'))
-    student_email = _clean_field(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)):
@@ -577,8 +577,8 @@ def list_instructor_tasks(request, course_id):
         - `problem_urlname` and `student_email` lists task
             history for problem AND student (intersection)
     """
-    problem_urlname = _clean_field(request.GET.get('problem_urlname', False))
-    student_email = _clean_field(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(
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ def update_forum_role_membership(request, course_id):
         request.user, course_id, FORUM_ROLE_ADMINISTRATOR
     )
 
-    email = _clean_field(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 a6eb70a608..9e77f55a29 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py
@@ -41,7 +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 _clean_field
+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,
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ def instructor_dashboard(request, course_id):
         is provided, "problem" is assumed.
         """
         # remove whitespace
-        urlname = _clean_field(urlname)
+        urlname = strip_if_string(urlname)
 
         # tolerate an XML suffix in the urlname
         if urlname[-4:] == ".xml":
@@ -189,7 +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 = _clean_field(unique_student_identifier)
+        unique_student_identifier = strip_if_string(unique_student_identifier)
         msg = ""
         try:
             if "@" in unique_student_identifier:
@@ -1001,7 +1001,7 @@ def _add_or_remove_user_group(request, username_or_email, group, group_title, ev
     to do.
     """
     user = None
-    username_or_email = _clean_field(username_or_email)
+    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
index 8ab98216e3..11fc135976 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """
 Tools for the instructor dashboard
 """
-def _clean_field(field):
-    if field:
-        return field.strip()
-    return field
+def strip_if_string(value):
+    if isinstance(value, basestring):
+        return value.strip()
+    return value