diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
index 92837e8448..65931e2842 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
@@ -2856,7 +2856,9 @@ def change_due_date(request, course_id):
     student = require_student_from_identifier(request.POST.get('student'))
     unit = find_unit(course, request.POST.get('url'))
     due_date = parse_datetime(request.POST.get('due_datetime'))
-    set_due_date_extension(course, unit, student, due_date, request.user)
+    reason = strip_tags(request.POST.get('reason', ''))
+
+    set_due_date_extension(course, unit, student, due_date, request.user, reason=reason)
 
     return JsonResponse(_(
         u'Successfully changed due date for student {0} for {1} '
@@ -2877,7 +2879,9 @@ def reset_due_date(request, course_id):
     course = get_course_by_id(CourseKey.from_string(course_id))
     student = require_student_from_identifier(request.POST.get('student'))
     unit = find_unit(course, request.POST.get('url'))
-    set_due_date_extension(course, unit, student, None, request.user)
+    reason = strip_tags(request.POST.get('reason', ''))
+
+    set_due_date_extension(course, unit, student, None, request.user, reason=reason)
     if not getattr(unit, "due", None):
         # It's possible the normal due date was deleted after an extension was granted:
         return JsonResponse(
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py
index 80e52e9b1a..1f5370fe97 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/tools.py
@@ -150,20 +150,20 @@ def title_or_url(node):
     return title
 
 
-def set_due_date_extension(course, unit, student, due_date, actor=None):
+def set_due_date_extension(course, unit, student, due_date, actor=None, reason=''):
     """
     Sets a due date extension. Raises DashboardError if the unit or extended
     due date is invalid.
     """
     if due_date:
         try:
-            api.set_date_for_block(course.id, unit.location, 'due', due_date, user=student, reason=None, actor=actor)
+            api.set_date_for_block(course.id, unit.location, 'due', due_date, user=student, reason=reason, actor=actor)
         except api.MissingDateError:
             raise DashboardError(_(u"Unit {0} has no due date to extend.").format(unit.location))
         except api.InvalidDateError:
             raise DashboardError(_("An extended due date must be later than the original due date."))
     else:
-        api.set_date_for_block(course.id, unit.location, 'due', None, user=student, reason=None, actor=actor)
+        api.set_date_for_block(course.id, unit.location, 'due', None, user=student, reason=reason, actor=actor)
 
 
 def dump_module_extensions(course, unit):
diff --git a/lms/static/js/instructor_dashboard/extensions.js b/lms/static/js/instructor_dashboard/extensions.js
index 21e5ee9273..342ac113ea 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/instructor_dashboard/extensions.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/instructor_dashboard/extensions.js
@@ -25,10 +25,13 @@
                 ext.$student_input = ext.$section.find("#set-extension input[name='student']");
                 ext.$url_input = ext.$section.find("#set-extension select[name='url']");
                 ext.$due_datetime_input = ext.$section.find("#set-extension input[name='due_datetime']");
+                ext.$reason_input = ext.$section.find("#set-extension input[name='reason']");
+
                 sendData = {
                     student: ext.$student_input.val(),
                     url: ext.$url_input.val(),
-                    due_datetime: ext.$due_datetime_input.val()
+                    due_datetime: ext.$due_datetime_input.val(),
+                    reason: ext.$reason_input.val()
                 };
                 return $.ajax({
                     type: 'POST',
@@ -48,9 +51,12 @@
                 ext.clear_display();
                 ext.$student_input = ext.$section.find("#reset-extension input[name='student']");
                 ext.$url_input = ext.$section.find("#reset-extension select[name='url']");
+                ext.$reason_input = ext.$section.find("#reset-extension input[name='reason']");
+
                 sendData = {
                     student: ext.$student_input.val(),
-                    url: ext.$url_input.val()
+                    url: ext.$url_input.val(),
+                    reason: ext.$reason_input.val()
                 };
                 return $.ajax({
                     type: 'POST',
diff --git a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/extensions.html b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/extensions.html
index b464394d11..504080cb8f 100644
--- a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/extensions.html
+++ b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/extensions.html
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
   <h3 class="hd hd-3">${_("Individual due date extensions")}</h3>
   <p>
     ${_("In this section, you have the ability to grant extensions on specific "
-        "units to individual students. Please note that the latest date is always "
+        "subsections to individual students. Please note that the latest date is always "
         "taken; you cannot use this tool to make an assignment due earlier for a "
         "particular student.")}
   </p>
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
     <input type="text" name="student" placeholder="${_("Student Email or Username")}">
   </p>
   <p>
-    ${_("Choose the graded unit:")}
+    ${_("Choose the graded subsection:")}
     <select name="url">
       <option value="">Choose one</option>
       %for title, url in section_data['units_with_due_dates']:
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
     ## Translators: "format_string" is the string MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM, as that is the format the system requires.
     ${_("Specify the extension due date and time (in UTC; please specify {format_string}).").format(format_string=format_string)}</p>
   <p><input type="text" name="due_datetime" 
-           placeholder="${format_string}"/>
+           placeholder="${format_string}"/> <input type="text" name="reason" placeholder="${_('Reason for extension')}" size=40 />
   </p>
   <p class="request-response"></p>
   <p class="request-response-error"></p>
@@ -45,14 +45,14 @@ from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
   <h3 class="hd hd-3">${_("Viewing granted extensions")}</h3>
   <p>
     ${_("Here you can see what extensions have been granted on particular "
-        "units or for a particular student.")}
+        "subsection or for a particular student.")}
   </p>
   <p>
-    ${_("Choose a graded unit and click the button to obtain a list of all "
-        "students who have extensions for the given unit.")}
+    ${_("Choose a graded subsection and click the button to obtain a list of all "
+        "students who have extensions for the given subsection.")}
   </p>
   <p>
-    ${_("Choose the graded unit:")}
+    ${_("Choose the graded subsection:")}
     <select name="url">
       <option value="">Choose one</option>
       %for title, url in section_data['units_with_due_dates']:
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
   <h3 class="hd hd-3">${_("Resetting extensions")}</h3>
   <p>
     ${_("Resetting a problem's due date rescinds a due date extension for a "
-        "student on a particular unit. This will revert the due date for the "
+        "student on a particular subsection. This will revert the due date for the "
         "student back to the problem's original due date.")}
   </p>
   <p>
@@ -95,13 +95,14 @@ from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
     <input type="text" name="student" placeholder="${_("Student Email or Username")}">
   </p>
   <p>
-    ${_("Choose the graded unit:")}
+    ${_("Choose the graded subsection:")}
     <select name="url">
       <option value="">Choose one</option>
       %for title, url in section_data['units_with_due_dates']:
       <option value="${url}">${title}</option>
       %endfor
     </select>
+    <input type="text" name="reason" placeholder="${_('Reason for reset')}" size=40 />
   </p>
   <p class="request-response"></p>
   <p class="request-response-error"></p>