diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/factories.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/factories.py
index 0d9621fc01..9560025441 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/factories.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/factories.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from student.models import (User, UserProfile, Registration,
                             CourseEnrollmentAllowed, CourseEnrollment)
 from django.contrib.auth.models import Group
 from datetime import datetime
-from factory import DjangoModelFactory, Factory, SubFactory, PostGenerationMethodCall
+from factory import DjangoModelFactory, Factory, SubFactory, PostGenerationMethodCall, post_generation
 from uuid import uuid4
 
 
@@ -45,6 +45,16 @@ class UserFactory(DjangoModelFactory):
     last_login = datetime(2012, 1, 1)
     date_joined = datetime(2011, 1, 1)
 
+    @post_generation
+    def profile(obj, create, extracted, **kwargs):
+        if create:
+            obj.save()
+            return UserProfileFactory.create(user=obj, **kwargs)
+        elif kwargs:
+            raise Exception("Cannot build a user profile without saving the user")
+        else:
+            return None
+
 
 class AdminFactory(UserFactory):
     is_staff = True
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/util/tests.py b/common/djangoapps/util/tests.py
index 501deb776c..d829676eaf 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/util/tests.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/util/tests.py
@@ -1,16 +1,280 @@
-"""
-This file demonstrates writing tests using the unittest module. These will pass
-when you run "manage.py test".
-
-Replace this with more appropriate tests for your application.
-"""
+"""Tests for the util package"""
 
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.contrib.auth.models import AnonymousUser
+from django.http import Http404
 from django.test import TestCase
+from django.test.client import RequestFactory
+from django.test.utils import override_settings
+from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
+from util import views
+from zendesk import ZendeskError
+import json
+import mock
 
 
-class SimpleTest(TestCase):
-    def test_basic_addition(self):
+@mock.patch.dict("django.conf.settings.MITX_FEATURES", {"ENABLE_FEEDBACK_SUBMISSION": True})
+@override_settings(ZENDESK_URL="dummy", ZENDESK_USER="dummy", ZENDESK_API_KEY="dummy")
+@mock.patch("util.views._ZendeskApi", autospec=True)
+class SubmitFeedbackViaZendeskTest(TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        """Set up data for the test case"""
+        self._request_factory = RequestFactory()
+        self._anon_user = AnonymousUser()
+        self._auth_user = UserFactory.create(
+            email="test@edx.org",
+            username="test",
+            profile__name="Test User"
+        )
+        # This contains a tag to ensure that tags are submitted correctly
+        self._anon_fields = {
+            "email": "test@edx.org",
+            "name": "Test User",
+            "subject": "a subject",
+            "details": "some details",
+            "tag": "a tag"
+        }
+        # This does not contain a tag to ensure that tag is optional
+        self._auth_fields = {"subject": "a subject", "details": "some details"}
+
+    def _test_request(self, user, fields):
         """
-        Tests that 1 + 1 always equals 2.
+        Generate a request and invoke the view, returning the response.
+
+        The request will be a POST request from the given `user`, with the given
+        `fields` in the POST body.
         """
-        self.assertEqual(1 + 1, 2)
+        req = self._request_factory.post(
+            "/submit_feedback",
+            data=fields,
+            HTTP_REFERER="test_referer",
+            HTTP_USER_AGENT="test_user_agent"
+        )
+        req.user = user
+        return views.submit_feedback_via_zendesk(req)
+
+    def _assert_bad_request(self, response, field, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """
+        Assert that the given `response` contains correct failure data.
+
+        It should have a 400 status code, and its content should be a JSON
+        object containing the specified `field` and an `error`.
+        """
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 400)
+        resp_json = json.loads(response.content)
+        self.assertTrue("field" in resp_json)
+        self.assertEqual(resp_json["field"], field)
+        self.assertTrue("error" in resp_json)
+        # There should be absolutely no interaction with Zendesk
+        self.assertFalse(zendesk_mock_class.return_value.mock_calls)
+
+    def _test_bad_request_omit_field(self, user, fields, omit_field, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """
+        Invoke the view with a request missing a field and assert correctness.
+
+        The request will be a POST request from the given `user`, with POST
+        fields taken from `fields` minus the entry specified by `omit_field`.
+        The response should have a 400 (bad request) status code and specify
+        the invalid field and an error message, and the Zendesk API should not
+        have been invoked.
+        """
+        filtered_fields = {k: v for (k, v) in fields.items() if k != omit_field}
+        resp = self._test_request(user, filtered_fields)
+        self._assert_bad_request(resp, omit_field, zendesk_mock_class)
+
+    def _test_bad_request_empty_field(self, user, fields, empty_field, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """
+        Invoke the view with an empty field and assert correctness.
+
+        The request will be a POST request from the given `user`, with POST
+        fields taken from `fields`, replacing the entry specified by
+        `empty_field` with the empty string. The response should have a 400
+        (bad request) status code and specify the invalid field and an error
+        message, and the Zendesk API should not have been invoked.
+        """
+        altered_fields = fields.copy()
+        altered_fields[empty_field] = ""
+        resp = self._test_request(user, altered_fields)
+        self._assert_bad_request(resp, empty_field, zendesk_mock_class)
+
+    def _test_success(self, user, fields):
+        """
+        Generate a request, invoke the view, and assert success.
+
+        The request will be a POST request from the given `user`, with the given
+        `fields` in the POST body. The response should have a 200 (success)
+        status code.
+        """
+        resp = self._test_request(user, fields)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_code, 200)
+
+    def test_bad_request_anon_user_no_name(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """Test a request from an anonymous user not specifying `name`."""
+        self._test_bad_request_omit_field(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields, "name", zendesk_mock_class)
+        self._test_bad_request_empty_field(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields, "name", zendesk_mock_class)
+
+    def test_bad_request_anon_user_no_email(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """Test a request from an anonymous user not specifying `email`."""
+        self._test_bad_request_omit_field(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields, "email", zendesk_mock_class)
+        self._test_bad_request_empty_field(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields, "email", zendesk_mock_class)
+
+    def test_bad_request_anon_user_no_subject(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """Test a request from an anonymous user not specifying `subject`."""
+        self._test_bad_request_omit_field(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields, "subject", zendesk_mock_class)
+        self._test_bad_request_empty_field(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields, "subject", zendesk_mock_class)
+
+    def test_bad_request_anon_user_no_details(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """Test a request from an anonymous user not specifying `details`."""
+        self._test_bad_request_omit_field(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields, "details", zendesk_mock_class)
+        self._test_bad_request_empty_field(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields, "details", zendesk_mock_class)
+
+    def test_valid_request_anon_user(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """
+        Test a valid request from an anonymous user.
+
+        The response should have a 200 (success) status code, and a ticket with
+        the given information should have been submitted via the Zendesk API.
+        """
+        zendesk_mock_instance = zendesk_mock_class.return_value
+        zendesk_mock_instance.create_ticket.return_value = 42
+        self._test_success(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields)
+        expected_calls = [
+            mock.call.create_ticket(
+                {
+                    "ticket": {
+                        "requester": {"name": "Test User", "email": "test@edx.org"},
+                        "subject": "a subject",
+                        "comment": {"body": "some details"},
+                        "tags": ["a tag"]
+                    }
+                }
+            ),
+            mock.call.update_ticket(
+                42,
+                {
+                    "ticket": {
+                        "comment": {
+                            "public": False,
+                            "body":
+                            "Additional information:\n\n"
+                            "HTTP_USER_AGENT: test_user_agent\n"
+                            "HTTP_REFERER: test_referer"
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            )
+        ]
+        self.assertEqual(zendesk_mock_instance.mock_calls, expected_calls)
+
+    def test_bad_request_auth_user_no_subject(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """Test a request from an authenticated user not specifying `subject`."""
+        self._test_bad_request_omit_field(self._auth_user, self._auth_fields, "subject", zendesk_mock_class)
+        self._test_bad_request_empty_field(self._auth_user, self._auth_fields, "subject", zendesk_mock_class)
+
+    def test_bad_request_auth_user_no_details(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """Test a request from an authenticated user not specifying `details`."""
+        self._test_bad_request_omit_field(self._auth_user, self._auth_fields, "details", zendesk_mock_class)
+        self._test_bad_request_empty_field(self._auth_user, self._auth_fields, "details", zendesk_mock_class)
+
+    def test_valid_request_auth_user(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """
+        Test a valid request from an authenticated user.
+
+        The response should have a 200 (success) status code, and a ticket with
+        the given information should have been submitted via the Zendesk API.
+        """
+        zendesk_mock_instance = zendesk_mock_class.return_value
+        zendesk_mock_instance.create_ticket.return_value = 42
+        self._test_success(self._auth_user, self._auth_fields)
+        expected_calls = [
+            mock.call.create_ticket(
+                {
+                    "ticket": {
+                        "requester": {"name": "Test User", "email": "test@edx.org"},
+                        "subject": "a subject",
+                        "comment": {"body": "some details"},
+                        "tags": []
+                    }
+                }
+            ),
+            mock.call.update_ticket(
+                42,
+                {
+                    "ticket": {
+                        "comment": {
+                            "public": False,
+                            "body":
+                            "Additional information:\n\n"
+                            "username: test\n"
+                            "HTTP_USER_AGENT: test_user_agent\n"
+                            "HTTP_REFERER: test_referer"
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            )
+        ]
+        self.assertEqual(zendesk_mock_instance.mock_calls, expected_calls)
+
+    def test_get_request(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """Test that a GET results in a 405 even with all required fields"""
+        req = self._request_factory.get("/submit_feedback", data=self._anon_fields)
+        req.user = self._anon_user
+        resp = views.submit_feedback_via_zendesk(req)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_code, 405)
+        self.assertIn("Allow", resp)
+        self.assertEqual(resp["Allow"], "POST")
+        # There should be absolutely no interaction with Zendesk
+        self.assertFalse(zendesk_mock_class.mock_calls)
+
+    def test_zendesk_error_on_create(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """
+        Test Zendesk returning an error on ticket creation.
+
+        We should return a 500 error with no body
+        """
+        err = ZendeskError(msg="", error_code=404)
+        zendesk_mock_instance = zendesk_mock_class.return_value
+        zendesk_mock_instance.create_ticket.side_effect = err
+        resp = self._test_request(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_code, 500)
+        self.assertFalse(resp.content)
+
+    def test_zendesk_error_on_update(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """
+        Test for Zendesk returning an error on ticket update.
+
+        If Zendesk returns any error on ticket update, we return a 200 to the
+        browser because the update contains additional information that is not
+        necessary for the user to have submitted their feedback.
+        """
+        err = ZendeskError(msg="", error_code=500)
+        zendesk_mock_instance = zendesk_mock_class.return_value
+        zendesk_mock_instance.update_ticket.side_effect = err
+        resp = self._test_request(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_code, 200)
+
+    @mock.patch.dict("django.conf.settings.MITX_FEATURES", {"ENABLE_FEEDBACK_SUBMISSION": False})
+    def test_not_enabled(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """
+        Test for Zendesk submission not enabled in `settings`.
+
+        We should raise Http404.
+        """
+        with self.assertRaises(Http404):
+            self._test_request(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields)
+
+    def test_zendesk_not_configured(self, zendesk_mock_class):
+        """
+        Test for Zendesk not fully configured in `settings`.
+
+        For each required configuration parameter, test that setting it to
+        `None` causes an otherwise valid request to return a 500 error.
+        """
+        def test_case(missing_config):
+            with mock.patch(missing_config, None):
+                with self.assertRaises(Exception):
+                    self._test_request(self._anon_user, self._anon_fields)
+
+        test_case("django.conf.settings.ZENDESK_URL")
+        test_case("django.conf.settings.ZENDESK_USER")
+        test_case("django.conf.settings.ZENDESK_API_KEY")
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/util/views.py b/common/djangoapps/util/views.py
index cece37757b..c087e99cb5 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/util/views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/util/views.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import datetime
 import json
+import logging
 import pprint
 import sys
 
@@ -7,15 +8,21 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.core.context_processors import csrf
 from django.core.mail import send_mail
-from django.http import Http404
-from django.http import HttpResponse
+from django.core.validators import ValidationError, validate_email
+from django.http import Http404, HttpResponse, HttpResponseBadRequest, HttpResponseNotAllowed, HttpResponseServerError
 from django.shortcuts import redirect
+from django_future.csrf import ensure_csrf_cookie
 from mitxmako.shortcuts import render_to_response, render_to_string
+from urllib import urlencode
+import zendesk
 
 import capa.calc
 import track.views
 
 
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
 def calculate(request):
     ''' Calculator in footer of every page. '''
     equation = request.GET['equation']
@@ -29,36 +36,142 @@ def calculate(request):
     return HttpResponse(json.dumps({'result': str(result)}))
 
 
-def send_feedback(request):
-    ''' Feeback mechanism in footer of every page. '''
-    try:
-        username = request.user.username
+class _ZendeskApi(object):
+    def __init__(self):
+        """
+        Instantiate the Zendesk API.
+
+        All of `ZENDESK_URL`, `ZENDESK_USER`, and `ZENDESK_API_KEY` must be set
+        in `django.conf.settings`.
+        """
+        self._zendesk_instance = zendesk.Zendesk(
+            settings.ZENDESK_URL,
+            settings.ZENDESK_USER,
+            settings.ZENDESK_API_KEY,
+            use_api_token=True,
+            api_version=2
+        )
+
+    def create_ticket(self, ticket):
+        """
+        Create the given `ticket` in Zendesk.
+
+        The ticket should have the format specified by the zendesk package.
+        """
+        ticket_url = self._zendesk_instance.create_ticket(data=ticket)
+        return zendesk.get_id_from_url(ticket_url)
+
+    def update_ticket(self, ticket_id, update):
+        """
+        Update the Zendesk ticket with id `ticket_id` using the given `update`.
+
+        The update should have the format specified by the zendesk package.
+        """
+        self._zendesk_instance.update_ticket(ticket_id=ticket_id, data=update)
+
+
+def submit_feedback_via_zendesk(request):
+    """
+    Create a new user-requested Zendesk ticket.
+
+    If Zendesk submission is not enabled, any request will raise `Http404`.
+    If any configuration parameter (`ZENDESK_URL`, `ZENDESK_USER`, or
+    `ZENDESK_API_KEY`) is missing, any request will raise an `Exception`.
+    The request must be a POST request specifying `subject` and `details`.
+    If the user is not authenticated, the request must also specify `name` and
+    `email`. If the user is authenticated, the `name` and `email` will be
+    populated from the user's information. If any required parameter is
+    missing, a 400 error will be returned indicating which field is missing and
+    providing an error message. If Zendesk returns any error on ticket
+    creation, a 500 error will be returned with no body. Once created, the
+    ticket will be updated with a private comment containing additional
+    information from the browser and server, such as HTTP headers and user
+    state. Whether or not the update succeeds, if the user's ticket is
+    successfully created, an empty successful response (200) will be returned.
+    """
+    if not settings.MITX_FEATURES.get('ENABLE_FEEDBACK_SUBMISSION', False):
+        raise Http404()
+    if request.method != "POST":
+        return HttpResponseNotAllowed(["POST"])
+    if (
+        not settings.ZENDESK_URL or
+        not settings.ZENDESK_USER or
+        not settings.ZENDESK_API_KEY
+    ):
+        raise Exception("Zendesk enabled but not configured")
+
+    def build_error_response(status_code, field, err_msg):
+        return HttpResponse(json.dumps({"field": field, "error": err_msg}), status=status_code)
+
+    additional_info = {}
+
+    required_fields = ["subject", "details"]
+    if not request.user.is_authenticated():
+        required_fields += ["name", "email"]
+    required_field_errs = {
+        "subject": "Please provide a subject.",
+        "details": "Please provide details.",
+        "name": "Please provide your name.",
+        "email": "Please provide a valid e-mail.",
+    }
+
+    for field in required_fields:
+        if field not in request.POST or not request.POST[field]:
+            return build_error_response(400, field, required_field_errs[field])
+
+    subject = request.POST["subject"]
+    details = request.POST["details"]
+    tags = []
+    if "tag" in request.POST:
+        tags = [request.POST["tag"]]
+
+    if request.user.is_authenticated():
+        realname = request.user.profile.name
         email = request.user.email
-    except:
-        username = "anonymous"
-        email = "anonymous"
+        additional_info["username"] = request.user.username
+    else:
+        realname = request.POST["name"]
+        email = request.POST["email"]
+        try:
+            validate_email(email)
+        except ValidationError:
+            return build_error_response(400, "email", required_field_errs["email"])
 
+    for header in ["HTTP_REFERER", "HTTP_USER_AGENT"]:
+        additional_info[header] = request.META.get(header)
+
+    zendesk_api = _ZendeskApi()
+
+    additional_info_string = (
+        "Additional information:\n\n" +
+        "\n".join("%s: %s" % (key, value) for (key, value) in additional_info.items() if value is not None)
+    )
+
+    new_ticket = {
+        "ticket": {
+            "requester": {"name": realname, "email": email},
+            "subject": subject,
+            "comment": {"body": details},
+            "tags": tags
+        }
+    }
     try:
-        browser = request.META['HTTP_USER_AGENT']
-    except:
-        browser = "Unknown"
+        ticket_id = zendesk_api.create_ticket(new_ticket)
+    except zendesk.ZendeskError as err:
+        log.error("%s", str(err))
+        return HttpResponse(status=500)
 
-    feedback = render_to_string("feedback_email.txt",
-                                {"subject": request.POST['subject'],
-                                 "url": request.POST['url'],
-                                 "time": datetime.datetime.now().isoformat(),
-                                 "feedback": request.POST['message'],
-                                 "email": email,
-                                 "browser": browser,
-                                 "user": username})
+    # Additional information is provided as a private update so the information
+    # is not visible to the user.
+    ticket_update = {"ticket": {"comment": {"public": False, "body": additional_info_string}}}
+    try:
+        zendesk_api.update_ticket(ticket_id, ticket_update)
+    except zendesk.ZendeskError as err:
+        log.error("%s", str(err))
+        # The update is not strictly necessary, so do not indicate failure to the user
+        pass
 
-    send_mail("MITx Feedback / " + request.POST['subject'],
-              feedback,
-              settings.DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL,
-              [settings.DEFAULT_FEEDBACK_EMAIL],
-              fail_silently=False
-              )
-    return HttpResponse(json.dumps({'success': True}))
+    return HttpResponse()
 
 
 def info(request):
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/.gitignore b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/.gitignore
index bbd93c90e3..456e71bf8b 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/.gitignore
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/.gitignore
@@ -1 +1,4 @@
-# Please do not ignore *.js files. Some xmodules are written in JS.
+# Ignore .js files in this folder as they are compiled from coffeescript
+# For each of the xmodules subdirectories, add a .gitignore file that
+# will version any *.js file that is specifically written, not compiled.
+*.js
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/capa/.gitignore b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/capa/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..13b8deb002
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/capa/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+!imageinput.js
+!schematic.js
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/graphical_slider_tool/.gitignore b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/graphical_slider_tool/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d4aa116a26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/graphical_slider_tool/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+!*.js
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/poll/.gitignore b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/poll/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d4aa116a26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/poll/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+!*.js
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/sequence/display/.gitignore b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/sequence/display/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d4aa116a26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/sequence/display/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+!*.js
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/videoalpha/display/.gitignore b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/videoalpha/display/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c7a88ce092
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/videoalpha/display/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+!html5_video.js
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py
index 7788e23980..31237af7b9 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py
@@ -37,11 +37,17 @@ class XModuleCourseFactory(Factory):
             new_course.display_name = display_name
 
         new_course.lms.start = gmtime()
-        new_course.tabs = [{"type": "courseware"},
-                           {"type": "course_info", "name": "Course Info"},
-                           {"type": "discussion", "name": "Discussion"},
-                           {"type": "wiki", "name": "Wiki"},
-                           {"type": "progress", "name": "Progress"}]
+        new_course.tabs = kwargs.get(
+            'tabs',
+            [
+                {"type": "courseware"},
+                {"type": "course_info", "name": "Course Info"},
+                {"type": "discussion", "name": "Discussion"},
+                {"type": "wiki", "name": "Wiki"},
+                {"type": "progress", "name": "Progress"}
+            ]
+        )
+        new_course.discussion_link = kwargs.get('discussion_link')
 
         # Update the data in the mongo datastore
         store.update_metadata(new_course.location.url(), own_metadata(new_course))
diff --git a/github-requirements.txt b/github-requirements.txt
index ca2669789a..35ad8af027 100644
--- a/github-requirements.txt
+++ b/github-requirements.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 -e git://github.com/edx/django-pipeline.git#egg=django-pipeline
 -e git://github.com/edx/django-wiki.git@e2e84558#egg=django-wiki
 -e git://github.com/dementrock/pystache_custom.git@776973740bdaad83a3b029f96e415a7d1e8bec2f#egg=pystache_custom-dev
+-e git://github.com/eventbrite/zendesk.git@d53fe0e81b623f084e91776bcf6369f8b7b63879#egg=zendesk
 
 # Our libraries:
 -e git+https://github.com/edx/XBlock.git@483e0cb1#egg=XBlock
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py
index 9f9a4e3e96..ea6f2fc556 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py
@@ -294,6 +294,27 @@ def get_course_tabs(user, course, active_page):
     return tabs
 
 
+def get_discussion_link(course):
+    """
+    Return the URL for the discussion tab for the given `course`.
+
+    If they have a discussion link specified, use that even if we disable
+    discussions. Disabling discsussions is mostly a server safety feature at
+    this point, and we don't need to worry about external sites. Otherwise,
+    if the course has a discussion tab or uses the default tabs, return the
+    discussion view URL. Otherwise, return None to indicate the lack of a
+    discussion tab.
+    """
+    if course.discussion_link:
+        return course.discussion_link
+    elif not settings.MITX_FEATURES.get('ENABLE_DISCUSSION_SERVICE'):
+        return None
+    elif hasattr(course, 'tabs') and course.tabs and not any([tab['type'] == 'discussion' for tab in course.tabs]):
+        return None
+    else:
+        return reverse('django_comment_client.forum.views.forum_form_discussion', args=[course.id])
+
+
 def get_default_tabs(user, course, active_page):
 
     # When calling the various _tab methods, can omit the 'type':'blah' from the
@@ -308,15 +329,9 @@ def get_default_tabs(user, course, active_page):
 
     tabs.extend(_textbooks({}, user, course, active_page))
 
-    ## If they have a discussion link specified, use that even if we feature
-    ## flag discussions off. Disabling that is mostly a server safety feature
-    ## at this point, and we don't need to worry about external sites.
-    if course.discussion_link:
-        tabs.append(CourseTab('Discussion', course.discussion_link, active_page == 'discussion'))
-    elif settings.MITX_FEATURES.get('ENABLE_DISCUSSION_SERVICE'):
-        link = reverse('django_comment_client.forum.views.forum_form_discussion',
-                              args=[course.id])
-        tabs.append(CourseTab('Discussion', link, active_page == 'discussion'))
+    discussion_link = get_discussion_link(course)
+    if discussion_link:
+        tabs.append(CourseTab('Discussion', discussion_link, active_page == 'discussion'))
 
     tabs.extend(_wiki({'name': 'Wiki', 'type': 'wiki'}, user, course, active_page))
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_tabs.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_tabs.py
index 928b9ae0df..04c46a7820 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_tabs.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_tabs.py
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 from django.test import TestCase
 from mock import MagicMock
+from mock import patch
 
 import courseware.tabs as tabs
 
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 
+from courseware.tests.tests import TEST_DATA_MONGO_MODULESTORE
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
 
 class ProgressTestCase(TestCase):
 
@@ -257,3 +261,62 @@ class ValidateTabsTestCase(TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(tabs.InvalidTabsException, tabs.validate_tabs, self.courses[2])
         self.assertIsNone(tabs.validate_tabs(self.courses[3]))
         self.assertRaises(tabs.InvalidTabsException, tabs.validate_tabs, self.courses[4])
+
+
+@override_settings(MODULESTORE=TEST_DATA_MONGO_MODULESTORE)
+class DiscussionLinkTestCase(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.tabs_with_discussion = [
+            {'type':'courseware'},
+            {'type':'course_info'},
+            {'type':'discussion'},
+            {'type':'textbooks'},
+        ]
+        self.tabs_without_discussion = [
+            {'type':'courseware'},
+            {'type':'course_info'},
+            {'type':'textbooks'},
+        ]
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _patch_reverse(course):
+        def patched_reverse(viewname, args):
+            if viewname == "django_comment_client.forum.views.forum_form_discussion" and args == [course.id]:
+                return "default_discussion_link"
+            else:
+                return None
+        return patch("courseware.tabs.reverse", patched_reverse)
+
+    @patch.dict("django.conf.settings.MITX_FEATURES", {"ENABLE_DISCUSSION_SERVICE": False})
+    def test_explicit_discussion_link(self):
+        """Test that setting discussion_link overrides everything else"""
+        course = CourseFactory.create(discussion_link="other_discussion_link", tabs=self.tabs_with_discussion)
+        self.assertEqual(tabs.get_discussion_link(course), "other_discussion_link")
+
+    @patch.dict("django.conf.settings.MITX_FEATURES", {"ENABLE_DISCUSSION_SERVICE": False})
+    def test_discussions_disabled(self):
+        """Test that other cases return None with discussions disabled"""
+        for i, t in enumerate([None, self.tabs_with_discussion, self.tabs_without_discussion]):
+            course = CourseFactory.create(tabs=t, number=str(i))
+            self.assertEqual(tabs.get_discussion_link(course), None)
+
+    @patch.dict("django.conf.settings.MITX_FEATURES", {"ENABLE_DISCUSSION_SERVICE": True})
+    def test_no_tabs(self):
+        """Test a course without tabs configured"""
+        course = CourseFactory.create(tabs=None)
+        with self._patch_reverse(course):
+            self.assertEqual(tabs.get_discussion_link(course), "default_discussion_link")
+
+    @patch.dict("django.conf.settings.MITX_FEATURES", {"ENABLE_DISCUSSION_SERVICE": True})
+    def test_tabs_with_discussion(self):
+        """Test a course with a discussion tab configured"""
+        course = CourseFactory.create(tabs=self.tabs_with_discussion)
+        with self._patch_reverse(course):
+            self.assertEqual(tabs.get_discussion_link(course), "default_discussion_link")
+
+    @patch.dict("django.conf.settings.MITX_FEATURES", {"ENABLE_DISCUSSION_SERVICE": True})
+    def test_tabs_without_discussion(self):
+        """Test a course with tabs configured but without a discussion tab"""
+        course = CourseFactory.create(tabs=self.tabs_without_discussion)
+        self.assertEqual(tabs.get_discussion_link(course), None)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/tests.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/tests.py
index 4c9f592797..d5064ec5e5 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/tests.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/tests.py
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 '''
 Test for lms courseware app
 '''
-
 import logging
 import json
 import time
 import random
 
 from urlparse import urlsplit, urlunsplit
+from uuid import uuid4
 
 from django.contrib.auth.models import User, Group
 from django.test import TestCase
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def mongo_store_config(data_dir):
                 'default_class': 'xmodule.raw_module.RawDescriptor',
                 'host': 'localhost',
                 'db': 'test_xmodule',
-                'collection': 'modulestore',
+                'collection': 'modulestore_%s' % uuid4().hex,
                 'fs_root': data_dir,
                 'render_template': 'mitxmako.shortcuts.render_to_string',
             }
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def draft_mongo_store_config(data_dir):
                 'default_class': 'xmodule.raw_module.RawDescriptor',
                 'host': 'localhost',
                 'db': 'test_xmodule',
-                'collection': 'modulestore',
+                'collection': 'modulestore_%s' % uuid4().hex,
                 'fs_root': data_dir,
                 'render_template': 'mitxmako.shortcuts.render_to_string',
             }
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def draft_mongo_store_config(data_dir):
                 'default_class': 'xmodule.raw_module.RawDescriptor',
                 'host': 'localhost',
                 'db': 'test_xmodule',
-                'collection': 'modulestore',
+                'collection': 'modulestore_%s' % uuid4().hex,
                 'fs_root': data_dir,
                 'render_template': 'mitxmako.shortcuts.render_to_string',
             }
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_gradebook.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_gradebook.py
index 2de5c18bcd..4b1d22b594 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_gradebook.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_gradebook.py
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ class TestGradebook(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         ]
 
         for user in self.users:
-            UserProfileFactory.create(user=user)
             CourseEnrollmentFactory.create(user=user, course_id=self.course.id)
 
         for i in xrange(USER_COUNT-1):
@@ -151,4 +150,4 @@ class TestLetterCutoffPolicy(TestGradebook):
         # User 0 has 0 on Homeworks [1]
         # User 0 has 0 on the class [1]
         # One use at the top of the page [1]
-        self.assertEquals(3, self.response.content.count('grade_None'))
\ No newline at end of file
+        self.assertEquals(3, self.response.content.count('grade_None'))
diff --git a/lms/envs/aws.py b/lms/envs/aws.py
index df81c1e3a9..fade92f612 100644
--- a/lms/envs/aws.py
+++ b/lms/envs/aws.py
@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@ META_UNIVERSITIES = ENV_TOKENS.get('META_UNIVERSITIES', {})
 COMMENTS_SERVICE_URL = ENV_TOKENS.get("COMMENTS_SERVICE_URL", '')
 COMMENTS_SERVICE_KEY = ENV_TOKENS.get("COMMENTS_SERVICE_KEY", '')
 CERT_QUEUE = ENV_TOKENS.get("CERT_QUEUE", 'test-pull')
+ZENDESK_URL = ENV_TOKENS.get("ZENDESK_URL")
+FEEDBACK_SUBMISSION_EMAIL = ENV_TOKENS.get("FEEDBACK_SUBMISSION_EMAIL")
 
 ############################## SECURE AUTH ITEMS ###############
 # Secret things: passwords, access keys, etc.
@@ -123,3 +125,6 @@ DATADOG_API = AUTH_TOKENS.get("DATADOG_API")
 # Analytics dashboard server
 ANALYTICS_SERVER_URL = ENV_TOKENS.get("ANALYTICS_SERVER_URL")
 ANALYTICS_API_KEY = AUTH_TOKENS.get("ANALYTICS_API_KEY", "")
+
+ZENDESK_USER = AUTH_TOKENS.get("ZENDESK_USER")
+ZENDESK_API_KEY = AUTH_TOKENS.get("ZENDESK_API_KEY")
diff --git a/lms/envs/common.py b/lms/envs/common.py
index 32a213f06e..b804ae2a7a 100644
--- a/lms/envs/common.py
+++ b/lms/envs/common.py
@@ -90,7 +90,10 @@ MITX_FEATURES = {
 
     # Give a UI to show a student's submission history in a problem by the
     # Staff Debug tool.
-    'ENABLE_STUDENT_HISTORY_VIEW': True
+    'ENABLE_STUDENT_HISTORY_VIEW': True,
+
+    # Provide a UI to allow users to submit feedback from the LMS
+    'ENABLE_FEEDBACK_SUBMISSION': False,
 }
 
 # Used for A/B testing
@@ -323,6 +326,14 @@ WIKI_LINK_DEFAULT_LEVEL = 2
 PEARSONVUE_SIGNINPAGE_URL = "https://www1.pearsonvue.com/testtaker/signin/SignInPage/EDX"
 # TESTCENTER_ACCOMMODATION_REQUEST_EMAIL = "exam-help@edx.org"
 
+##### Feedback submission mechanism #####
+FEEDBACK_SUBMISSION_EMAIL = None
+
+##### Zendesk #####
+ZENDESK_URL = None
+ZENDESK_USER = None
+ZENDESK_API_KEY = None
+
 ################################# open ended grading config  #####################
 
 #By setting up the default settings with an incorrect user name and password,
@@ -582,3 +593,4 @@ INSTALLED_APPS = (
     # Discussion forums
     'django_comment_client',
 )
+
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/base/_base.scss b/lms/static/sass/base/_base.scss
index ca56f542d6..d2d4a0564f 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/base/_base.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/base/_base.scss
@@ -202,5 +202,62 @@ mark {
   }
 }
 
+.help-tab {
+  @include transform(rotate(-90deg));
+  @include transform-origin(0 0);
+  top: 50%;
+  left: 0;
+  position: fixed;
+  z-index: 99;
 
+  a:link, a:visited {
+    cursor: pointer;
+    border: 1px solid #ccc;
+    border-top-style: none;
+    @include border-radius(0px 0px 10px 10px);
+    background: transparentize(#fff, 0.25);
+    color: transparentize(#333, 0.25);
+    font-weight: bold;
+    text-decoration: none;
+    padding: 6px 22px 11px;
+    display: inline-block;
 
+    &:hover {
+      color: #fff;
+      background: #1D9DD9;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+.help-buttons {
+  padding: 10px 50px;
+
+  a:link, a:visited {
+    padding: 15px 0px;
+    text-align: center;
+    cursor: pointer;
+    background: #fff;
+    text-decoration: none;
+    display: block;
+    border: 1px solid #ccc;
+
+    &#feedback_link_problem {
+      border-bottom-style: none;
+      @include border-radius(10px 10px 0px 0px);
+    }
+
+    &#feedback_link_question {
+      border-top-style: none;
+      @include border-radius(0px 0px 10px 10px);
+    }
+
+    &:hover {
+      color: #fff;
+      background: #1D9DD9;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+#feedback_form textarea[name="details"] {
+  height: 150px;
+}
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/shared/_modal.scss b/lms/static/sass/shared/_modal.scss
index bfa803fee2..2da64d54a6 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/shared/_modal.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/shared/_modal.scss
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@
           display: block;
           color: #8F0E0E;
 
-          + input {
+          + input, + textarea {
             border: 1px solid #CA1111;
             color: #8F0E0E;
           }
diff --git a/lms/templates/help_modal.html b/lms/templates/help_modal.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..83ea00068f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/templates/help_modal.html
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+<%namespace name='static' file='static_content.html'/>
+<%! from django.conf import settings %>
+<%! from courseware.tabs import get_discussion_link %>
+
+% if settings.MITX_FEATURES.get('ENABLE_FEEDBACK_SUBMISSION', False):
+
+<div class="help-tab">
+  <a href="#help-modal" rel="leanModal">Help</a>
+</div>
+
+<section id="help-modal" class="modal">
+  <div class="inner-wrapper" id="help_wrapper">
+    <header>
+      <h2><span class="edx">edX</span> Help</h2>
+      <hr>
+    </header>
+
+<%
+discussion_link = get_discussion_link(course) if course else None
+%>
+% if discussion_link:
+    <p>
+      Have a course-specific question?
+      <a href="${discussion_link}" target="_blank"/>
+        Post it on the course forums.
+      </a>
+    </p>
+    <hr>
+% endif
+
+    <p>Have a general question about edX? <a href="/help" target="_blank">Check the FAQ</a>.</p>
+    <hr>
+
+    <div class="help-buttons">
+      <a href="#" id="feedback_link_problem">Report a problem</a>
+      <a href="#" id="feedback_link_suggestion">Make a suggestion</a>
+      <a href="#" id="feedback_link_question">Ask a question</a>
+    </div>
+
+## TODO: find a way to refactor this
+    <div class="close-modal">
+      <div class="inner">
+        <p>&#10005;</p>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+
+  <div class="inner-wrapper" id="feedback_form_wrapper">
+    <header></header>
+
+    <form id="feedback_form" class="feedback_form" method="post" data-remote="true" action="/submit_feedback">
+      <div id="feedback_error" class="modal-form-error"></div>
+% if not user.is_authenticated():
+      <label data-field="name">Name*</label>
+      <input name="name" type="text">
+      <label data-field="email">E-mail*</label>
+      <input name="email" type="text">
+% endif
+      <label data-field="subject">Subject*</label>
+      <input name="subject" type="text">
+      <label data-field="details">Details*</label>
+      <textarea name="details"></textarea>
+      <input name="tag" type="hidden">
+      <div class="submit">
+        <input name="submit" type="submit" value="Submit">
+      </div>
+    </form>
+
+    <div class="close-modal">
+      <div class="inner">
+        <p>&#10005;</p>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+
+  <div class="inner-wrapper" id="feedback_success_wrapper">
+    <header>
+      <h2>Thank You!</h2>
+      <hr>
+    </header>
+
+    <p>
+    Thanks for your feedback. We will read your message, and our
+    support team may contact you to respond or ask for further clarification.
+    </p>
+
+    <div class="close-modal">
+      <div class="inner">
+        <p>&#10005;</p>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</section>
+
+<script type="text/javascript">
+(function() {
+    $(".help-tab").click(function() {
+        $(".field-error").removeClass("field-error");
+        $("#feedback_form")[0].reset();
+        $("#feedback_form input[type='submit']").removeAttr("disabled");
+        $("#feedback_form_wrapper").css("display", "none");
+        $("#feedback_error").css("display", "none");
+        $("#feedback_success_wrapper").css("display", "none");
+        $("#help_wrapper").css("display", "block");
+    });
+    showFeedback = function(e, tag, title) {
+        $("#help_wrapper").css("display", "none");
+        $("#feedback_form input[name='tag']").val(tag);
+        $("#feedback_form_wrapper").css("display", "block");
+        $("#feedback_form_wrapper header").html("<h2>" + title + "</h2><hr>");
+        e.preventDefault();
+    };
+    $("#feedback_link_problem").click(function(e) {
+        showFeedback(e, "problem", "Report a Problem");
+    });
+    $("#feedback_link_suggestion").click(function(e) {
+        showFeedback(e, "suggestion", "Make a Suggestion");
+    });
+    $("#feedback_link_question").click(function(e) {
+        showFeedback(e, "question", "Ask a Question");
+    });
+    $("#feedback_form").submit(function() {
+        $("input[type='submit']", this).attr("disabled", "disabled");
+    });
+    $("#feedback_form").on("ajax:complete", function() {
+        $("input[type='submit']", this).removeAttr("disabled");
+    });
+    $("#feedback_form").on("ajax:success", function(event, data, status, xhr) {
+        $("#feedback_form_wrapper").css("display", "none");
+        $("#feedback_success_wrapper").css("display", "block");
+    });
+    $("#feedback_form").on("ajax:error", function(event, xhr, status, error) {
+        $(".field-error").removeClass("field-error");
+        var responseData;
+        try {
+            responseData = jQuery.parseJSON(xhr.responseText);
+        } catch(err) {
+        }
+        if (responseData) {
+            $("[data-field='"+responseData.field+"']").addClass("field-error");
+            $("#feedback_error").html(responseData.error).stop().css("display", "block");
+        } else {
+            // If no data (or malformed data) is returned, a server error occurred
+            htmlStr = "An error has occurred.";
+% if settings.FEEDBACK_SUBMISSION_EMAIL:
+            htmlStr += " Please <a href='#' id='feedback_email'>send us e-mail</a>.";
+% else:
+            // If no email is configured, we can't do much other than
+            // ask the user to try again later
+            htmlStr += " Please try again later.";
+% endif
+            $("#feedback_error").html(htmlStr).stop().css("display", "block");
+% if settings.FEEDBACK_SUBMISSION_EMAIL:
+            $("#feedback_email").click(function(e) {
+                mailto = "mailto:" + "${settings.FEEDBACK_SUBMISSION_EMAIL}" +
+                    "?subject=" + $("#feedback_form input[name='subject']").val() +
+                    "&body=" + $("#feedback_form textarea[name='details']").val();
+                window.open(mailto);
+                e.preventDefault();
+            });
+%endif
+        }
+    });
+})(this)
+</script>
+
+%endif
diff --git a/lms/templates/navigation.html b/lms/templates/navigation.html
index e4c23e4836..4bb99d1ebd 100644
--- a/lms/templates/navigation.html
+++ b/lms/templates/navigation.html
@@ -96,3 +96,5 @@ site_status_msg = get_site_status_msg(course_id)
   <%include file="signup_modal.html" />
   <%include file="forgot_password_modal.html" />
 %endif
+
+<%include file="help_modal.html"/>
diff --git a/lms/urls.py b/lms/urls.py
index 126d68c73e..b00813a40d 100644
--- a/lms/urls.py
+++ b/lms/urls.py
@@ -114,8 +114,9 @@ urlpatterns = ('',  # nopep8
     # Favicon
     (r'^favicon\.ico$', 'django.views.generic.simple.redirect_to', {'url': '/static/images/favicon.ico'}),
 
+    url(r'^submit_feedback$', 'util.views.submit_feedback_via_zendesk'),
+
     # TODO: These urls no longer work. They need to be updated before they are re-enabled
-    # url(r'^send_feedback$', 'util.views.send_feedback'),
     # url(r'^reactivate/(?P<key>[^/]*)$', 'student.views.reactivation_email'),
 )