diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/item.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/item.py
index 5a11820e97..9ad65877de 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/item.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/item.py
@@ -1188,11 +1188,17 @@ def create_xblock_info(xblock, data=None, metadata=None, include_ancestor_info=F
             xblock_info.update({
                 'hide_after_due': xblock.hide_after_due,
             })
-        elif xblock.category == 'chapter':
+        elif xblock.category in ('chapter', 'course'):
+            if xblock.category == 'chapter':
+                xblock_info.update({
+                    'highlights': xblock.highlights,
+                })
+            elif xblock.category == 'course':
+                xblock_info.update({
+                    'highlights_enabled_for_messaging': course.highlights_enabled_for_messaging,
+                })
             xblock_info.update({
-                'highlights': xblock.highlights,
                 'highlights_enabled': highlights_setting.is_enabled(),
-                'highlights_enabled_for_messaging': course.highlights_enabled_for_messaging,
                 'highlights_preview_only': not COURSE_UPDATE_WAFFLE_FLAG.is_enabled(course.id),
                 'highlights_doc_url': HelpUrlExpert.the_one().url_for_token('content_highlights'),
             })
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_item.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_item.py
index 5dd760fed6..959cac7360 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_item.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_item.py
@@ -2577,8 +2577,10 @@ class TestXBlockInfo(ItemTest):
         self.store.update_item(self.course, None)
         chapter = self.store.get_item(self.chapter.location)
         with highlights_setting.override():
-            xblock_info = create_xblock_info(chapter)
-            self.assertTrue(xblock_info['highlights_enabled'])
+            chapter_xblock_info = create_xblock_info(chapter)
+            course_xblock_info = create_xblock_info(self.course)
+            self.assertTrue(chapter_xblock_info['highlights_enabled'])
+            self.assertTrue(course_xblock_info['highlights_enabled_for_messaging'])
 
     def validate_course_xblock_info(self, xblock_info, has_child_info=True, course_outline=False):
         """
@@ -2588,6 +2590,7 @@ class TestXBlockInfo(ItemTest):
         self.assertEqual(xblock_info['id'], unicode(self.course.location))
         self.assertEqual(xblock_info['display_name'], self.course.display_name)
         self.assertTrue(xblock_info['published'])
+        self.assertFalse(xblock_info['highlights_enabled_for_messaging'])
 
         # Finally, validate the entire response for consistency
         self.validate_xblock_info_consistency(xblock_info, has_child_info=has_child_info, course_outline=course_outline)
@@ -2608,7 +2611,6 @@ class TestXBlockInfo(ItemTest):
         self.assertEqual(xblock_info['format'], None)
         self.assertEqual(xblock_info['highlights'], self.chapter.highlights)
         self.assertFalse(xblock_info['highlights_enabled'])
-        self.assertFalse(xblock_info['highlights_enabled_for_messaging'])
 
         # Finally, validate the entire response for consistency
         self.validate_xblock_info_consistency(xblock_info, has_child_info=has_child_info)
diff --git a/cms/static/js/models/xblock_info.js b/cms/static/js/models/xblock_info.js
index 8bd50a4b20..78eaaddea2 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/models/xblock_info.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/models/xblock_info.js
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ function(Backbone, _, str, ModuleUtils) {
              */
             highlights: [],
             highlights_enabled: false,
+            highlights_enabled_for_messaging: false,
             highlights_preview_only: true,
             highlights_doc_url: ''
         },
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_outline_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_outline_spec.js
index 9800a3261b..1dbbbaa5b0 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_outline_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/views/pages/course_outline_spec.js
@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@ define(['jquery', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/j
                         children: []
                     },
                     user_partitions: [],
-                    user_partition_info: {}
+                    user_partition_info: {},
+                    highlights_enabled: true,
+                    highlights_enabled_for_messaging: false
                 }, options, {child_info: {children: children}});
             };
 
@@ -262,7 +264,8 @@ define(['jquery', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/j
                     'due-date-editor', 'grading-editor', 'publish-editor',
                     'staff-lock-editor', 'unit-access-editor', 'content-visibility-editor',
                     'settings-modal-tabs', 'timed-examination-preference-editor', 'access-editor',
-                    'show-correctness-editor', 'highlights-editor'
+                    'show-correctness-editor', 'highlights-editor', 'highlights-enable-editor',
+                    'course-highlights-enable'
                 ]);
                 appendSetFixtures(mockOutlinePage);
                 mockCourseJSON = createMockCourseJSON({}, [
@@ -529,20 +532,17 @@ define(['jquery', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/j
                 });
             });
 
-            describe('Section Highlights', function() {
-                var createCourse, createCourseWithHighlights, createCourseWithHighlightsDisabled, mockHighlightValues,
-                    highlightsLink, highlightInputs, openHighlights, saveHighlights, setHighlights,
-                    expectHighlightLinkNumberToBe, expectHighlightsToBe, expectServerHandshakeWithHighlights,
-                    expectHighlightsToUpdate,
-                    maxNumHighlights = 5;
+            describe('Content Highlights', function() {
+                var createCourse, createCourseWithHighlights, createCourseWithHighlightsDisabled,
+                    clickSaveOnModal, clickCancelOnModal;
 
                 beforeEach(function() {
                     setSelfPaced();
                 });
 
-                createCourse = function(sectionOptions) {
+                createCourse = function(sectionOptions, courseOptions) {
                     createCourseOutlinePage(this,
-                        createMockCourseJSON({}, [
+                        createMockCourseJSON(courseOptions, [
                             createMockSectionJSON(sectionOptions)
                         ])
                     );
@@ -553,142 +553,256 @@ define(['jquery', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/spec-helpers/ajax-helpers', 'common/j
                 };
 
                 createCourseWithHighlightsDisabled = function() {
-                    createCourse({highlights_enabled: false});
+                    var highlightsDisabled = {highlights_enabled: false};
+                    createCourse(highlightsDisabled, highlightsDisabled);
                 };
 
-                mockHighlightValues = function(numberOfHighlights) {
-                    var highlights = [],
-                        i;
-                    for (i = 0; i < numberOfHighlights; i++) {
-                        highlights.push('Highlight' + (i + 1));
-                    }
-                    return highlights;
-                };
-
-                highlightsLink = function() {
-                    return outlinePage.$('.section-status >> .highlights-button');
-                };
-
-                highlightInputs = function() {
-                    return $('.highlight-input-text');
-                };
-
-                openHighlights = function() {
-                    highlightsLink().click();
-                };
-
-                saveHighlights = function() {
+                clickSaveOnModal = function() {
                     $('.wrapper-modal-window .action-save').click();
                 };
 
-                setHighlights = function(highlights) {
-                    var i;
-                    for (i = 0; i < highlights.length; i++) {
-                        $(highlightInputs()[i]).val(highlights[i]);
-                    }
-                    for (i = highlights.length; i < maxNumHighlights; i++) {
-                        $(highlightInputs()[i]).val('');
-                    }
+                clickCancelOnModal = function() {
+                    $('.wrapper-modal-window .action-cancel').click();
                 };
 
-                expectHighlightLinkNumberToBe = function(expectedNumber) {
-                    var link = highlightsLink();
-                    expect(link).toContainText('Section Highlights');
-                    expect(link.find('.number-highlights')).toHaveHtml(expectedNumber);
-                };
+                describe('Course Highlights Setting', function() {
+                    var highlightsSetting, expectHighlightsEnabledToBe, expectServerHandshake, openHighlightsSettings;
 
-                expectHighlightsToBe = function(expectedHighlights) {
-                    var highlights = highlightInputs(),
-                        i;
+                    highlightsSetting = function() {
+                        return $('.course-highlights-setting');
+                    };
 
-                    expect(highlights).toHaveLength(maxNumHighlights);
-
-                    for (i = 0; i < expectedHighlights.length; i++) {
-                        expect(highlights[i]).toHaveValue(expectedHighlights[i]);
-                    }
-                    for (i = expectedHighlights.length; i < maxNumHighlights; i++) {
-                        expect(highlights[i]).toHaveValue('');
-                        expect(highlights[i]).toHaveAttr('placeholder', 'A highlight to look forward to this week.');
-                    }
-                };
-
-                expectServerHandshakeWithHighlights = function(highlights) {
-                    // POST to update section
-                    AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'POST', '/xblock/mock-section', {
-                        publish: 'republish',
-                        metadata: {
-                            highlights: highlights
+                    expectHighlightsEnabledToBe = function(expectedEnabled) {
+                        if (expectedEnabled) {
+                            expect('.status-highlights-enabled-value.button').not.toExist();
+                            expect('.status-highlights-enabled-value.text').toExist();
+                        } else {
+                            expect('.status-highlights-enabled-value.button').toExist();
+                            expect('.status-highlights-enabled-value.text').not.toExist();
                         }
+                    }
+
+                    expectServerHandshake = function() {
+                        // POST to update course
+                        AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'POST', '/xblock/mock-course', {
+                            publish: 'republish',
+                            metadata: {
+                                highlights_enabled_for_messaging: true
+                            }
+                        });
+                        AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {});
+
+                        // GET updated course
+                        AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'GET', '/xblock/outline/mock-course');
+                        AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(
+                            requests, createMockCourseJSON({highlights_enabled_for_messaging: true})
+                        );
+                    };
+
+                    openHighlightsSettings = function() {
+                        $('button.status-highlights-enabled-value').click();
+                    };
+
+                    it('does not display settings when disabled', function() {
+                        createCourseWithHighlightsDisabled();
+                        expect(highlightsSetting()).not.toExist();
                     });
-                    AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {});
 
-                    // GET updated section
-                    AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'GET', '/xblock/outline/mock-section');
-                    AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, createMockSectionJSON({highlights: highlights}));
-                };
+                    it('displays settings when enabled', function() {
+                        createCourseWithHighlights([]);
+                        expect(highlightsSetting()).toExist();
+                    });
 
-                expectHighlightsToUpdate = function(originalHighlights, updatedHighlights) {
-                    createCourseWithHighlights(originalHighlights);
+                    it('displays settings as not enabled for messaging', function() {
+                        createCourse();
+                        expectHighlightsEnabledToBe(false);
+                    });
 
-                    openHighlights();
-                    setHighlights(updatedHighlights);
-                    saveHighlights();
+                    it('displays settings as enabled for messaging', function() {
+                        createCourse({}, {highlights_enabled_for_messaging: true});
+                        expectHighlightsEnabledToBe(true);
+                    });
 
-                    expectServerHandshakeWithHighlights(updatedHighlights);
-                    expectHighlightLinkNumberToBe(updatedHighlights.length);
+                    it('changes settings when enabled for messaging', function() {
+                        createCourse();
+                        openHighlightsSettings();
+                        clickSaveOnModal();
+                        expectServerHandshake();
+                        expectHighlightsEnabledToBe(true);
+                    });
 
-                    openHighlights();
-                    expectHighlightsToBe(updatedHighlights);
-                };
-
-                it('does not display a link when highlights is disabled', function() {
-                    createCourseWithHighlightsDisabled();
-                    expect(highlightsLink()).toHaveLength(0);
+                    it('does not change settings when enabling is cancelled', function() {
+                        createCourse();
+                        openHighlightsSettings();
+                        clickCancelOnModal();
+                        expectHighlightsEnabledToBe(false);
+                    });
                 });
 
-                it('displays link when no highlights exist', function() {
-                    createCourseWithHighlights([]);
-                    expectHighlightLinkNumberToBe(0);
-                });
 
-                it('displays link when highlights exist', function() {
-                    var highlights = mockHighlightValues(2);
-                    createCourseWithHighlights(highlights);
-                    expectHighlightLinkNumberToBe(2);
-                });
+                describe('Section Highlights', function() {
+                    var mockHighlightValues, highlightsLink, highlightInputs, openHighlights, saveHighlights,
+                        cancelHighlights, setHighlights, expectHighlightLinkNumberToBe, expectHighlightsToBe,
+                        expectServerHandshakeWithHighlights, expectHighlightsToUpdate,
+                        maxNumHighlights = 5;
 
-                it('can view when no highlights exist', function() {
-                    createCourseWithHighlights([]);
-                    openHighlights();
-                    expectHighlightsToBe([]);
-                });
+                    mockHighlightValues = function(numberOfHighlights) {
+                        var highlights = [],
+                            i;
+                        for (i = 0; i < numberOfHighlights; i++) {
+                            highlights.push('Highlight' + (i + 1));
+                        }
+                        return highlights;
+                    };
 
-                it('can view existing highlights', function() {
-                    var highlights = mockHighlightValues(2);
-                    createCourseWithHighlights(highlights);
-                    openHighlights();
-                    expectHighlightsToBe(highlights);
-                });
+                    highlightsLink = function() {
+                        return outlinePage.$('.section-status >> .highlights-button');
+                    };
 
-                it('can add highlights', function() {
-                    expectHighlightsToUpdate(
-                        mockHighlightValues(0),
-                        mockHighlightValues(1)
-                    );
-                });
+                    highlightInputs = function() {
+                        return $('.highlight-input-text');
+                    };
 
-                it('can remove highlights', function() {
-                    expectHighlightsToUpdate(
-                        mockHighlightValues(5),
-                        mockHighlightValues(3)
-                    );
-                });
+                    openHighlights = function() {
+                        highlightsLink().click();
+                    };
 
-                it('can edit highlights', function() {
-                    var originalHighlights = mockHighlightValues(3),
-                        editedHighlights = originalHighlights;
-                    editedHighlights[2] = 'A New Value';
-                    expectHighlightsToUpdate(originalHighlights, editedHighlights);
+                    saveHighlights = function() {
+                        clickSaveOnModal();
+                    };
+
+                    cancelHighlights = function() {
+                        clickCancelOnModal();
+                    };
+
+                    setHighlights = function(highlights) {
+                        var i;
+                        for (i = 0; i < highlights.length; i++) {
+                            $(highlightInputs()[i]).val(highlights[i]);
+                        }
+                        for (i = highlights.length; i < maxNumHighlights; i++) {
+                            $(highlightInputs()[i]).val('');
+                        }
+                    };
+
+                    expectHighlightLinkNumberToBe = function(expectedNumber) {
+                        var link = highlightsLink();
+                        expect(link).toContainText('Section Highlights');
+                        expect(link.find('.number-highlights')).toHaveHtml(expectedNumber);
+                    };
+
+                    expectHighlightsToBe = function(expectedHighlights) {
+                        var highlights = highlightInputs(),
+                            i;
+
+                        expect(highlights).toHaveLength(maxNumHighlights);
+
+                        for (i = 0; i < expectedHighlights.length; i++) {
+                            expect(highlights[i]).toHaveValue(expectedHighlights[i]);
+                        }
+                        for (i = expectedHighlights.length; i < maxNumHighlights; i++) {
+                            expect(highlights[i]).toHaveValue('');
+                            expect(highlights[i]).toHaveAttr(
+                                'placeholder',
+                                'A highlight to look forward to this week.'
+                            );
+                        }
+                    };
+
+                    expectServerHandshakeWithHighlights = function(highlights) {
+                        // POST to update section
+                        AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'POST', '/xblock/mock-section', {
+                            publish: 'republish',
+                            metadata: {
+                                highlights: highlights
+                            }
+                        });
+                        AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, {});
+
+                        // GET updated section
+                        AjaxHelpers.expectJsonRequest(requests, 'GET', '/xblock/outline/mock-section');
+                        AjaxHelpers.respondWithJson(requests, createMockSectionJSON({highlights: highlights}));
+                    };
+
+                    expectHighlightsToUpdate = function(originalHighlights, updatedHighlights) {
+                        createCourseWithHighlights(originalHighlights);
+
+                        openHighlights();
+                        setHighlights(updatedHighlights);
+                        saveHighlights();
+
+                        expectServerHandshakeWithHighlights(updatedHighlights);
+                        expectHighlightLinkNumberToBe(updatedHighlights.length);
+
+                        openHighlights();
+                        expectHighlightsToBe(updatedHighlights);
+                    };
+
+                    it('does not display link when disabled', function() {
+                        createCourseWithHighlightsDisabled();
+                        expect(highlightsLink()).not.toExist();
+                    });
+
+                    it('displays link when no highlights exist', function() {
+                        createCourseWithHighlights([]);
+                        expectHighlightLinkNumberToBe(0);
+                    });
+
+                    it('displays link when highlights exist', function() {
+                        var highlights = mockHighlightValues(2);
+                        createCourseWithHighlights(highlights);
+                        expectHighlightLinkNumberToBe(2);
+                    });
+
+                    it('can view when no highlights exist', function() {
+                        createCourseWithHighlights([]);
+                        openHighlights();
+                        expectHighlightsToBe([]);
+                    });
+
+                    it('can view existing highlights', function() {
+                        var highlights = mockHighlightValues(2);
+                        createCourseWithHighlights(highlights);
+                        openHighlights();
+                        expectHighlightsToBe(highlights);
+                    });
+
+                    it('does not save highlights when cancelled', function() {
+                        var originalHighlights = mockHighlightValues(2),
+                            editedHighlights = originalHighlights;
+                        editedHighlights[1] = 'A New Value';
+
+                        createCourseWithHighlights(originalHighlights);
+                        openHighlights();
+                        setHighlights(editedHighlights);
+
+                        cancelHighlights();
+                        AjaxHelpers.expectNoRequests(requests);
+
+                        openHighlights();
+                        expectHighlightsToBe(originalHighlights);
+                    });
+
+                    it('can add highlights', function() {
+                        expectHighlightsToUpdate(
+                            mockHighlightValues(0),
+                            mockHighlightValues(1)
+                        );
+                    });
+
+                    it('can remove highlights', function() {
+                        expectHighlightsToUpdate(
+                            mockHighlightValues(5),
+                            mockHighlightValues(3)
+                        );
+                    });
+
+                    it('can edit highlights', function() {
+                        var originalHighlights = mockHighlightValues(3),
+                            editedHighlights = originalHighlights;
+                        editedHighlights[2] = 'A New Value';
+                        expectHighlightsToUpdate(originalHighlights, editedHighlights);
+                    });
                 });
             });
 
diff --git a/cms/static/js/views/course_highlights_enable.js b/cms/static/js/views/course_highlights_enable.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8d2973e02a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/static/js/views/course_highlights_enable.js
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+define([
+    'jquery', 'underscore', 'backbone', 'js/views/utils/xblock_utils', 'js/utils/templates',
+    'js/views/modals/course_outline_modals', 'edx-ui-toolkit/js/utils/html-utils'],
+    function(
+        $, _, Backbone, XBlockViewUtils, TemplateUtils, CourseOutlineModalsFactory, HtmlUtils
+    ) {
+        'use strict';
+        var CourseHighlightsEnableView = Backbone.View.extend({
+            events: {
+                'click button.status-highlights-enabled-value': 'handleEnableButtonPress',
+                'keypress button.status-highlights-enabled-value': 'handleEnableButtonPress'
+            },
+
+            initialize: function() {
+                this.template = TemplateUtils.loadTemplate('course-highlights-enable');
+            },
+
+            handleEnableButtonPress: function(event) {
+                if (event.type === 'click' || event.key === 'Enter' || event.key === ' ') {
+                    event.preventDefault();
+                    this.highlightsEnableXBlock();
+                }
+            },
+
+            highlightsEnableXBlock: function() {
+                var modal = CourseOutlineModalsFactory.getModal('highlights_enable', this.model, {
+                    onSave: this.refresh.bind(this),
+                    xblockType: XBlockViewUtils.getXBlockType(
+                        this.model.get('category')
+                    )
+                });
+
+                if (modal) {
+                    window.analytics.track('edx.bi.highlights_enable.modal_open');
+                    modal.show();
+                }
+            },
+
+            refresh: function() {
+                this.model.fetch({
+                    success: this.render.bind(this)
+                });
+            },
+
+            render: function() {
+                var html = this.template(this.model.attributes);
+                HtmlUtils.setHtml(this.$el, HtmlUtils.HTML(html));
+                return this;
+            }
+        });
+
+        return CourseHighlightsEnableView;
+    }
+);
diff --git a/cms/static/js/views/modals/course_outline_modals.js b/cms/static/js/views/modals/course_outline_modals.js
index bf34283ee9..e839429346 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/views/modals/course_outline_modals.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/views/modals/course_outline_modals.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ define(['jquery', 'backbone', 'underscore', 'gettext', 'js/views/baseview',
         AbstractEditor, BaseDateEditor,
         ReleaseDateEditor, DueDateEditor, GradingEditor, PublishEditor, AbstractVisibilityEditor,
         StaffLockEditor, UnitAccessEditor, ContentVisibilityEditor, TimedExaminationPreferenceEditor,
-        AccessEditor, ShowCorrectnessEditor, HighlightsEditor;
+        AccessEditor, ShowCorrectnessEditor, HighlightsEditor, HighlightsEnableXBlockModal, HighlightsEnableEditor;
 
     CourseOutlineXBlockModal = BaseModal.extend({
         events: _.extend({}, BaseModal.prototype.events, {
@@ -242,7 +242,11 @@ define(['jquery', 'backbone', 'underscore', 'gettext', 'js/views/baseview',
         callAnalytics: function(event) {
             event.preventDefault();
             window.analytics.track('edx.bi.highlights.' + event.target.innerText.toLowerCase());
-            this.save(event);
+            if (event.target.className.indexOf('save') !== -1) {
+                this.save(event);
+            } else {
+                this.hide();
+            }
         },
 
         addActionButtons: function() {
@@ -251,6 +255,44 @@ define(['jquery', 'backbone', 'underscore', 'gettext', 'js/views/baseview',
         }
     });
 
+    HighlightsEnableXBlockModal = CourseOutlineXBlockModal.extend({
+
+        events: _.extend({}, CourseOutlineXBlockModal.prototype.events, {
+            'click .action-save': 'callAnalytics',
+            'click .action-cancel': 'callAnalytics'
+        }),
+
+        initialize: function() {
+            CourseOutlineXBlockModal.prototype.initialize.call(this);
+            if (this.options.xblockType) {
+                this.options.modalName = 'highlights-enable-' + this.options.xblockType;
+            }
+        },
+
+        getTitle: function() {
+            return gettext('Enable Weekly Course Highlight Messages');
+        },
+
+        getIntroductionMessage: function() {
+            return '';
+        },
+
+        callAnalytics: function(event) {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            window.analytics.track('edx.bi.highlights_enable.' + event.target.innerText.toLowerCase());
+            if (event.target.className.indexOf('save') !== -1) {
+                this.save(event);
+            } else {
+                this.hide();
+            }
+        },
+
+        addActionButtons: function() {
+            this.addActionButton('save', gettext('Enable'), true);
+            this.addActionButton('cancel', gettext('Not yet'));
+        }
+    });
+
     AbstractEditor = BaseView.extend({
         tagName: 'section',
         templateName: null,
@@ -933,6 +975,42 @@ define(['jquery', 'backbone', 'underscore', 'gettext', 'js/views/baseview',
         }
     });
 
+    HighlightsEnableEditor = AbstractEditor.extend({
+        templateName: 'highlights-enable-editor',
+        className: 'edit-enable-highlights',
+
+        currentValue: function() {
+            return true;
+        },
+
+        hasChanges: function() {
+            return this.model.get('highlights_enabled_for_messaging') !== this.currentValue();
+        },
+
+        getRequestData: function() {
+            if (this.hasChanges()) {
+                return {
+                    publish: 'republish',
+                    metadata: {
+                        highlights_enabled_for_messaging: this.currentValue()
+                    }
+                };
+            } else {
+                return {};
+            }
+        },
+        getContext: function() {
+            return $.extend(
+                {},
+                AbstractEditor.prototype.getContext.call(this),
+                {
+                    highlights_enabled: this.model.get('highlights_enabled_for_messaging'),
+                    highlights_doc_url: this.model.get('highlights_doc_url')
+                }
+            );
+        }
+    });
+
     return {
         getModal: function(type, xblockInfo, options) {
             if (type === 'edit') {
@@ -941,6 +1019,8 @@ define(['jquery', 'backbone', 'underscore', 'gettext', 'js/views/baseview',
                 return this.getPublishModal(xblockInfo, options);
             } else if (type === 'highlights') {
                 return this.getHighlightsModal(xblockInfo, options);
+            } else if (type === 'highlights_enable') {
+                return this.getHighlightsEnableModal(xblockInfo, options);
             } else {
                 return null;
             }
@@ -1018,6 +1098,13 @@ define(['jquery', 'backbone', 'underscore', 'gettext', 'js/views/baseview',
                 editors: [HighlightsEditor],
                 model: xblockInfo
             }, options));
+        },
+
+        getHighlightsEnableModal: function(xblockInfo, options) {
+            return new HighlightsEnableXBlockModal($.extend({
+                editors: [HighlightsEnableEditor],
+                model: xblockInfo
+            }, options));
         }
     };
 });
diff --git a/cms/static/js/views/pages/course_outline.js b/cms/static/js/views/pages/course_outline.js
index 05fc02b20e..b4d35e348b 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/views/pages/course_outline.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/views/pages/course_outline.js
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 /**
  * This page is used to show the user an outline of the course.
  */
-define(['jquery', 'underscore', 'gettext', 'js/views/pages/base_page', 'js/views/utils/xblock_utils',
-        'js/views/course_outline', 'common/js/components/utils/view_utils', 'common/js/components/views/feedback_alert',
-        'common/js/components/views/feedback_notification'],
-    function($, _, gettext, BasePage, XBlockViewUtils, CourseOutlineView, ViewUtils, AlertView, NoteView) {
+define([
+    'jquery', 'underscore', 'gettext', 'js/views/pages/base_page', 'js/views/utils/xblock_utils',
+    'js/views/course_outline', 'common/js/components/utils/view_utils', 'common/js/components/views/feedback_alert',
+    'common/js/components/views/feedback_notification', 'js/views/course_highlights_enable'],
+    function($, _, gettext, BasePage, XBlockViewUtils, CourseOutlineView, ViewUtils, AlertView, NoteView,
+             CourseHighlightsEnableView
+    ) {
+        'use strict';
         var expandedLocators, CourseOutlinePage;
 
         CourseOutlinePage = BasePage.extend({
@@ -65,6 +69,15 @@ define(['jquery', 'underscore', 'gettext', 'js/views/pages/base_page', 'js/views
                     this.expandedLocators.addAll(this.initialState.expanded_locators);
                 }
 
+                /* globals course */
+                if (this.model.get('highlights_enabled') && course.get('self_paced')) {
+                    this.highlightsEnableView = new CourseHighlightsEnableView({
+                        el: this.$('.status-highlights-enabled'),
+                        model: this.model
+                    });
+                    this.highlightsEnableView.render();
+                }
+
                 this.outlineView = new CourseOutlineView({
                     el: this.$('.outline'),
                     model: this.model,
diff --git a/cms/static/sass/views/_outline.scss b/cms/static/sass/views/_outline.scss
index d3674ce852..ac06a835b9 100644
--- a/cms/static/sass/views/_outline.scss
+++ b/cms/static/sass/views/_outline.scss
@@ -184,11 +184,13 @@
     margin-bottom: $baseline;
 
     .status-release,
-    .status-pacing {
+    .status-pacing,
+    .status-highlights-enabled {
       @extend %t-copy-base;
 
       display: inline-block;
       color: $color-copy-base;
+      margin-right: $baseline;
 
       // STATE: hover
       &:hover {
@@ -198,10 +200,17 @@
       }
     }
 
+    .status-highlights-enabled {
+      margin-left: $baseline * 1.6;
+    }
+
     .status-release-label,
     .status-release-value,
     .status-pacing-label,
     .status-pacing-value,
+    .status-highlights-enabled-label,
+    .status-highlights-enabled-value,
+    .status-highlights-enabled-info,
     .status-actions {
       display: inline-block;
       vertical-align: middle;
@@ -209,13 +218,28 @@
     }
 
     .status-release-label,
-    .status-pacing-label {
+    .status-pacing-label,
+    .status-highlights-enabled-label {
       margin-right: ($baseline/4);
     }
 
     .status-release-value,
-    .status-pacing-value {
+    .status-pacing-value,
+    .status-highlights-enabled-value {
       @extend %t-strong;
+      font-size: smaller;
+    }
+
+    .status-highlights-enabled-info {
+      font-size: smaller;
+      margin-left: $baseline / 2;
+    }
+
+    .status-highlights-enabled-value.button {
+      @extend %btn-primary-blue;
+      @extend %sizing;
+      padding: 5px 8px;
+      margin-top: 2px;
     }
 
     .status-actions {
diff --git a/cms/templates/course_outline.html b/cms/templates/course_outline.html
index 8073e7a814..20d7e7c959 100644
--- a/cms/templates/course_outline.html
+++ b/cms/templates/course_outline.html
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ from openedx.core.djangolib.markup import HTML, Text
 
 <%block name="header_extras">
 <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="${static.url('js/vendor/timepicker/jquery.timepicker.css')}" />
-% for template_name in ['course-outline', 'xblock-string-field-editor', 'basic-modal', 'modal-button', 'course-outline-modal', 'due-date-editor', 'release-date-editor', 'grading-editor', 'publish-editor', 'staff-lock-editor', 'unit-access-editor', 'content-visibility-editor', 'verification-access-editor', 'timed-examination-preference-editor', 'access-editor', 'settings-modal-tabs', 'show-correctness-editor', 'highlights-editor']:
+% for template_name in ['course-outline', 'xblock-string-field-editor', 'basic-modal', 'modal-button', 'course-outline-modal', 'due-date-editor', 'release-date-editor', 'grading-editor', 'publish-editor', 'staff-lock-editor', 'unit-access-editor', 'content-visibility-editor', 'verification-access-editor', 'timed-examination-preference-editor', 'access-editor', 'settings-modal-tabs', 'show-correctness-editor', 'highlights-editor', 'highlights-enable-editor', 'course-highlights-enable']:
 <script type="text/template" id="${template_name}-tpl">
     <%static:include path="js/${template_name}.underscore" />
 </script>
@@ -152,7 +152,8 @@ from openedx.core.djangolib.markup import HTML, Text
         <article class="content-primary" role="main">
             <div class="course-status">
                 <div class="status-release">
-                    <h2 class="status-release-label">${_("Course Start Date:")}</h2>
+                    <h2 class="status-release-label">${_("Course Start Date")}</h2>
+                    <br>
                     <p class="status-release-value">${course_release_date}</p>
 
                     <ul class="status-actions">
@@ -166,14 +167,16 @@ from openedx.core.djangolib.markup import HTML, Text
                 </div>
                 % if SelfPacedConfiguration.current().enabled:
                     <div class="status-pacing">
-                        <h2 class=status-pacing-label>${_("Course Pacing:")}</h2>
+                        <h2 class=status-pacing-label>${_("Course Pacing")}</h2>
+                        <br>
                         % if context_course.self_paced:
                             <p class="status-pacing-value">${_("Self-Paced")}</p>
                         % else:
                             <p class="status-pacing-value">${_("Instructor-Paced")}</p>
                         % endif
                     </div>
-               % endif
+                % endif
+                <div class="status-highlights-enabled"></div>
             </div>
             <div class="wrapper-dnd"
               % if getattr(context_course, 'language'):
diff --git a/cms/templates/js/course-highlights-enable.underscore b/cms/templates/js/course-highlights-enable.underscore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7133db19ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/templates/js/course-highlights-enable.underscore
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+<div class="course-highlights-setting">
+<h2 id="highlights-enabled-label" class="status-highlights-enabled-label">
+  <%- gettext('Weekly Highlight Emails') %>
+</h2>
+<br>
+<% if (highlights_enabled_for_messaging) { %>
+  <span class="status-highlights-enabled-value text"><%- gettext('Enabled') %></span>
+<% } else { %>
+  <button class="status-highlights-enabled-value button" aria-labelledby="highlights-enabled-label"><%- gettext('Enable Now') %></button>
+<% } %>
+<a class="status-highlights-enabled-info" href="<%- highlights_doc_url %>">Learn more</a>
+</div>
diff --git a/cms/templates/js/highlights-editor.underscore b/cms/templates/js/highlights-editor.underscore
index 2bf31f5ffe..be3588f45e 100644
--- a/cms/templates/js/highlights-editor.underscore
+++ b/cms/templates/js/highlights-editor.underscore
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@
         'read our {linkStart}documentation{linkEnd}.'
     ),
     {
-        linkStart: edx.HtmlUtils.HTML('<a href="' + highlights_doc_url + '">'),
+        linkStart: edx.HtmlUtils.interpolateHtml(
+            edx.HtmlUtils.HTML('<a href={highlightsDocUrl}">'),
+            {highlightsDocUrl: highlights_doc_url}
+        ),
         linkEnd: edx.HtmlUtils.HTML('</a>')
     }
 ) %>
diff --git a/cms/templates/js/highlights-enable-editor.underscore b/cms/templates/js/highlights-enable-editor.underscore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9a21697b1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/templates/js/highlights-enable-editor.underscore
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+<p>
+<%- gettext(
+    'When you enable weekly course highlight messages, learners ' +
+    'automatically receive weekly email messages for each section that ' +
+    'has highlights. You cannot disable highlights after you start ' +
+    'sending them.'
+) %>
+</p>
+<p>
+<% // xss-lint: disable=underscore-not-escaped %>
+<%= edx.HtmlUtils.interpolateHtml(
+    gettext(
+        'Are you sure you want to enable weekly course highlight messages? '
+        + '{linkStart}Learn more.{linkEnd}'
+    ),
+    {
+        linkStart: edx.HtmlUtils.interpolateHtml(
+            edx.HtmlUtils.HTML('<a href="{highlightsDocUrl}" target="_blank">'),
+            {highlightsDocUrl: xblockInfo.attributes.highlights_doc_url}
+        ),
+        linkEnd: edx.HtmlUtils.HTML('</a>')
+    }
+) %>
+</p>
diff --git a/cms/templates/js/mock/mock-course-outline-page.underscore b/cms/templates/js/mock/mock-course-outline-page.underscore
index 8cc7a725b9..6bdc4f718b 100644
--- a/cms/templates/js/mock/mock-course-outline-page.underscore
+++ b/cms/templates/js/mock/mock-course-outline-page.underscore
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@
     <div class="wrapper-content wrapper">
         <section class="content">
             <article class="content-primary" role="main">
+                <div class=course-status"">
+                    <div class="status-highlights-enabled"></div>
+                </div>
                 <div class="wrapper-dnd">
                     <article class="outline outline-course" data-locator="mock-course" data-course-key="slashes:MockCourse">
                         <div class="no-content add-xblock-component">
diff --git a/common/test/acceptance/tests/studio/test_studio_outline.py b/common/test/acceptance/tests/studio/test_studio_outline.py
index 207f2878dd..bca3932a58 100644
--- a/common/test/acceptance/tests/studio/test_studio_outline.py
+++ b/common/test/acceptance/tests/studio/test_studio_outline.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Acceptance tests for studio related to the outline page.
 import itertools
 import json
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
+from unittest import skip
 
 from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
 from pytz import UTC
@@ -115,6 +116,7 @@ class CourseOutlineDragAndDropTest(CourseOutlineTest):
             expected_ordering
         )
 
+    @skip("Fails in Firefox 45 but passes in Chrome")
     def test_drop_unit_in_collapsed_subsection(self):
         """
         Drag vertical "1.1.2" from subsection "1.1" into collapsed subsection "1.2" which already
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/schedules/content_highlights.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/schedules/content_highlights.py
index fd708ba64f..53b2ba91c1 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/schedules/content_highlights.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/schedules/content_highlights.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+"""
+Contains methods for accessing weekly course highlights. Weekly highlights is a
+schedule experience built on the Schedules app.
+"""
 import logging
 
 from courseware.module_render import get_module_for_descriptor
@@ -24,26 +28,28 @@ def course_has_highlights(course_key):
         return False
 
     else:
-        course_has_highlights = any(
+        highlights_are_available = any(
             section.highlights
             for section in course.get_children()
             if not section.hide_from_toc
         )
 
-        if not course_has_highlights:
+        if not highlights_are_available:
             log.error(
                 "Course team enabled highlights and provided no highlights."
             )
 
-        return course_has_highlights
+        return highlights_are_available
 
 
 def get_week_highlights(user, course_key, week_num):
     """
     Get highlights (list of unicode strings) for a given week.
     week_num starts at 1.
-    Raises CourseUpdateDoesNotExist if highlights do not exist for
-    the requested week_num.
+
+    Raises:
+        CourseUpdateDoesNotExist: if highlights do not exist for
+            the requested week_num.
     """
     course_descriptor = _get_course_with_highlights(course_key)
     course_module = _get_course_module(course_descriptor, user)
@@ -57,6 +63,7 @@ def get_week_highlights(user, course_key, week_num):
 
 
 def _get_course_with_highlights(course_key):
+    # pylint: disable=missing-docstring
     if not COURSE_UPDATE_WAFFLE_FLAG.is_enabled(course_key):
         raise CourseUpdateDoesNotExist(
             "%s Course Update Messages waffle flag is disabled.",