diff --git a/cms/static/js/base.js b/cms/static/js/base.js
index de0fd955dc..7f82e67431 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/base.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/base.js
@@ -253,6 +253,12 @@ function syncReleaseDate(e) {
     $("#start_time").val("");
 }
 
+function pad2(number) {
+    // pad a number to two places: useful for formatting months, days, hours, etc
+    // when displaying a date/time
+    return (number < 10 ? '0' : '') + number;
+}
+
 function getEdxTimeFromDateTimeVals(date_val, time_val) {
     if (date_val != '') {
         if (time_val == '') time_val = '00:00';
@@ -772,21 +778,23 @@ function cancelSetSectionScheduleDate(e) {
 function saveSetSectionScheduleDate(e) {
     e.preventDefault();
 
-    var input_date = $('.edit-subsection-publish-settings .start-date').val();
-    var input_time = $('.edit-subsection-publish-settings .start-time').val();
-
-    var start = getEdxTimeFromDateTimeVals(input_date, input_time);
+    var date = $('.edit-subsection-publish-settings .start-date').datepicker("getDate");
+    var time = $('.edit-subsection-publish-settings .start-time').timepicker("getTime");
+    var datetime = new Date(Date.UTC(
+        date.getFullYear(), date.getMonth(), date.getDate(),
+        time.getHours(), time.getMinutes()
+    ));
 
     var id = $modal.attr('data-id');
 
     analytics.track('Edited Section Release Date', {
         'course': course_location_analytics,
         'id': id,
-        'start': start
+        'start': datetime
     });
 
     var saving = new CMS.Views.Notification.Mini({
-        title: gettext("Saving") + "&hellip;",
+        title: gettext("Saving") + "&hellip;"
     });
     saving.show();
     // call into server to commit the new order
@@ -798,7 +806,7 @@ function saveSetSectionScheduleDate(e) {
         data: JSON.stringify({
             'id': id,
             'metadata': {
-                'start': start
+                'start': datetime
             }
         })
     }).success(function() {
@@ -806,12 +814,15 @@ function saveSetSectionScheduleDate(e) {
         var html = _.template(
             '<span class="published-status">' +
                 '<strong>' + gettext("Will Release:") + '&nbsp;</strong>' +
-                gettext("<%= date %> at <%= time %> UTC") +
+                gettext("{month}/{day}/{year} at {hour}:{minute} UTC") +
             '</span>' +
-            '<a href="#" class="edit-button" data-date="<%= date %>" data-time="<%= time %>" data-id="<%= id %>">' +
+            '<a href="#" class="edit-button" data-date="{month}/{day}/{year}" data-time="{hour}:{minute}" data-id="{id}">' +
                 gettext("Edit") +
             '</a>',
-            {date: input_date, time: input_time, id: id});
+            {year: datetime.getUTCFullYear(), month: pad2(datetime.getUTCMonth() + 1), day: pad2(datetime.getUTCDate()),
+             hour: pad2(datetime.getUTCHours()), minute: pad2(datetime.getUTCMinutes()),
+             id: id},
+            {interpolate: /\{(.+?)\}/g});
         $thisSection.find('.section-published-date').html(html);
         hideModal();
         saving.hide();