diff --git a/lms/static/sass/base/_variables.scss b/lms/static/sass/base/_variables.scss
index dff281e1d563f51a05de8de7b2e2ec06cea20997..8ed84ae2a7fd1aeb6a77a9c9fb2fafddd86d6d4e 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/base/_variables.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/base/_variables.scss
@@ -224,6 +224,15 @@ $error-color: $error-red;
 $warning-color: $m-pink;
 $confirm-color: $m-green;
 
+// Notifications
+$notify-banner-bg1: rgb(56,56,56);
+$notify-banner-bg2: rgb(136,136,136);
+$notify-banner-bg3: rgb(223,223,223);
+
+$alert-color: rgb(212, 64, 64); //rich red
+$warning-color: rgb(237, 189, 60); //rich yellow
+$success-color: rgb(37, 184, 90); //rich green
+
 // ====================
 
 // MISC: visual horizontal rules
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/elements/_system-feedback.scss b/lms/static/sass/elements/_system-feedback.scss
index 5ee7cc591b05a76edffa2f7b5bb812325dae1573..963e8a2b59293e8dfd63af16cf952431e2d8edb7 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/elements/_system-feedback.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/elements/_system-feedback.scss
@@ -5,11 +5,12 @@
 
 // UI : message
 .wrapper-msg {
-  box-shadow: 0 0 5px $action-primary-shadow inset;
-  margin-bottom: ($baseline*1.5);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 5px $shadow-d1 inset;
+  margin-bottom: ($baseline/4);
   padding: $baseline ($baseline*1.5);
-  background: $action-primary-bg;
+  background: $notify-banner-bg1;
 
+  // basic object
   .msg {
     @include clearfix();
     max-width: grid-width(12);
@@ -25,24 +26,23 @@
   }
 
   .msg-content {
-    width: flex-grid(10,12);
 
     .title {
       @extend %t-title5;
       @extend %t-weight4;
       margin-bottom: ($baseline/4);
-      color: $white;
+      color: inherit;
       text-transform: none;
       letter-spacing: 0;
     }
 
     .copy {
       @extend %t-copy-sub1;
-      color: $white;
+      color: inherit;
 
       p { // nasty reset
         @extend %t-copy-sub1;
-        color: $white;
+        color: inherit;
       }
     }
   }
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
       width: flex-grid(2,12);
       display: inline-block;
       vertical-align: middle;
+      text-align: right;
 
       .action-primary {
         @extend %btn-primary-green;
@@ -64,7 +65,65 @@
     }
   }
 
+  .is-dismissable {
+
+    .msg-content {
+      width: flex-grid(11,12);
+    }
+
+    .action-dismiss {
+      width: flex-grid(1,12);
+      display: inline-block;
+      vertical-align: top;
+      text-align: right;
+
+      .button-dismiss {  //ugly reset on button element
+        @extend %t-icon4;
+        background: none;
+        box-shadow: none;
+        border: none;
+        text-shadow: none;
+        color: inherit;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // object variations
+  &.urgency-high {
+    background: $notify-banner-bg1;
+
+    .msg {
+      color: $white;
+    }
+  }
 
+  &.urgency-mid {
+    background: $notify-banner-bg2;
+
+    .msg {
+      color: $white;
+    }
+  }
+
+  &.urgency-low {
+    background: $notify-banner-bg3;
+
+    .msg {
+      color: $black;
+    }
+  }
+
+  &.alert {
+    border-top: 3px solid $alert-color;
+  }
+
+  &.warning {
+    border-top: 3px solid $warning-color;
+  }
+
+  &.success {
+    border-top: 3px solid $success-color;
+  }
 }
 
 // prompts
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_dashboard.scss b/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_dashboard.scss
index 6d6a782b73099d6e8183ed4fbd1bc45999f43ca4..3170b1e468c3fbea27dbb586a5290ca26090947e 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_dashboard.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/multicourse/_dashboard.scss
@@ -133,6 +133,51 @@
           }
         }
       }
+
+      .reverify-status-list {
+        padding: 0 0 0 9px;
+
+        .status-item {
+          @extend %t-copy-sub2;
+          margin-bottom: 7px;
+          border-bottom: 0;
+          padding: 0;
+
+          [class^="icon-"] {
+            display: inline-block;
+            vertical-align: top;
+            margin: ($baseline/10) ($baseline/4) 0 0;
+          }
+
+          &.is-open [class^="icon-"] {
+            color: $action-primary-bg;
+          }
+
+          &.is-pending [class^="icon-"] {
+            color: $warning-color;
+          }
+
+          &.is-approved [class^="icon-"] {
+            color: $success-color;
+          }
+
+          &.is-denied [class^="icon-"] {
+            color: $alert-color;
+          }
+
+          .label {
+            @extend %text-sr;
+          }
+
+          .course-name {
+            display: inline-block;
+            vertical-align: top;
+            width: 80%;
+            color: inherit;
+            line-height: 1.4;
+          }
+        }
+      }
     }
 
     .news-carousel {
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/views/_verification.scss b/lms/static/sass/views/_verification.scss
index 8d029a5d185059cffa2666597797d1ad5d8e0794..8163a5850274c9b3171216d91e029c9f4dde7d1b 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/views/_verification.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/views/_verification.scss
@@ -1832,8 +1832,9 @@
       }
 
       .reverification-list {
+        margin-right: ($baseline*1.5);
+        padding: 0;
         list-style-type: none;
-        padding: 0 $baseline;
 
         .item {
           box-shadow: 0 2px 5px 0 $shadow-l1 inset;
@@ -1841,7 +1842,15 @@
           border: 1px solid $m-gray-t2;
 
           &.complete {
-            border: 1px solid $verified-color-lvl1;
+            border: 1px solid $verified-color-lvl3;
+
+            .course-info {
+              opacity: .5;
+
+              .course-name {
+                font-weight: normal;
+              }
+            }
 
             .reverify-status {
               border-top: 1px solid $light-gray;
@@ -1852,7 +1861,15 @@
           }
 
           &.failed {
-            border: 1px solid $danger-red;
+            border: 1px solid $error-red;
+
+            .course-info {
+              opacity: .5;
+
+              .course-name {
+                font-weight: normal;
+              }
+            }
 
             .reverify-status {
               border-top: 1px solid $light-gray;
@@ -1914,134 +1931,198 @@
     }
 
     // step-photos
-    .wrapper-task {
-      @include clearfix();
-      width: flex-grid(12,12);
-      margin: $baseline 0;
+    &.step-photos {
 
-      .wrapper-help {
-        float: right;
-        width: flex-grid(6,12);
-        padding: 0 $baseline;
+      .block-photo .title {
+        @extend %t-title4;
+        color: $m-blue-d1;
+      }
 
-        .help {
-          margin-bottom: ($baseline*1.5);
+      .wrapper-task {
+        @include clearfix();
+        width: flex-grid(12,12);
+        margin: $baseline 0;
 
-          &:last-child {
-            margin-bottom: 0;
-          }
+        .wrapper-help {
+          float: right;
+          width: flex-grid(6,12);
+          padding: 0 $baseline;
 
-          .title {
-            @extend %hd-lv3;
-          }
+          .help {
+            margin-bottom: ($baseline*1.5);
 
-          .copy {
-            @extend %copy-detail;
-          }
+            &:last-child {
+              margin-bottom: 0;
+            }
 
-          .example {
-            color: $m-gray-l2;
-          }
+            .title {
+              @extend %hd-lv3;
+            }
 
-          // help - general list
-          .list-help {
-            margin-top: ($baseline/2);
-            color: $black;
+            .copy {
+              @extend %copy-detail;
+            }
 
-            .help-item {
-              margin-bottom: ($baseline/4);
-              border-bottom: 1px solid $m-gray-l4;
-              padding-bottom: ($baseline/4);
+            .example {
+              color: $m-gray-l2;
+            }
 
-              &:last-child {
-                margin-bottom: 0;
-                border-bottom: none;
-                padding-bottom: 0;
+            // help - general list
+            .list-help {
+              margin-top: ($baseline/2);
+              color: $black;
+
+              .help-item {
+                margin-bottom: ($baseline/4);
+                border-bottom: 1px solid $m-gray-l4;
+                padding-bottom: ($baseline/4);
+
+                &:last-child {
+                  margin-bottom: 0;
+                  border-bottom: none;
+                  padding-bottom: 0;
+                }
+              }
+
+              .help-item-emphasis {
+                @extend %t-weight4;
               }
             }
 
-            .help-item-emphasis {
-              @extend %t-weight4;
+            // help - faq
+            .list-faq {
+              margin-bottom: $baseline;
             }
           }
+        }
 
-          // help - faq
-          .list-faq {
-            margin-bottom: $baseline;
-          }
+        .task {
+          @extend %ui-window;
+          float: left;
+          width: flex-grid(6,12);
+          margin-right: flex-gutter();
         }
-      }
 
-      .task {
-        @extend %ui-window;
-        float: left;
-        width: flex-grid(6,12);
-        margin-right: flex-gutter();
-      }
+        .controls {
+          padding: ($baseline*0.75) $baseline;
+          background: $m-gray-l4;
 
-      .controls {
-        padding: ($baseline*0.75) $baseline;
-        background: $m-gray-l4;
+          .list-controls {
+            position: relative;
+          }
 
-        .list-controls {
-          position: relative;
-        }
+          .control {
+            position: absolute;
 
-        .control {
-          position: absolute;
+            .action {
+              @extend %btn-primary-blue;
+              padding: ($baseline/2) ($baseline*0.75);
 
-          .action {
-            @extend %btn-primary-blue;
-            padding: ($baseline/2) ($baseline*0.75);
+              *[class^="icon-"] {
+                @extend %t-icon4;
+                padding: ($baseline*.25) ($baseline*.5);
+                display: block;
+              }
+            }
 
-            *[class^="icon-"] {
-              @extend %t-icon4;
-              padding: ($baseline*.25) ($baseline*.5);
-              display: block;
+            // STATE: hidden
+            &.is-hidden {
+              visibility: hidden;
+            }
+
+            // STATE: shown
+            &.is-shown {
+              visibility: visible;
+            }
+
+            // STATE: approved
+            &.approved {
+
+              .action {
+                @extend %btn-verify-primary;
+                padding: ($baseline/2) ($baseline*0.75);
+              }
             }
           }
 
-          // STATE: hidden
-          &.is-hidden {
-            visibility: hidden;
+          // control - redo
+          .control-redo {
+            position: absolute;
+            left: ($baseline/2);
           }
 
-          // STATE: shown
-          &.is-shown {
-            visibility: visible;
+          // control - take/do
+          .control-do {
+            left: 45%;
           }
 
-          // STATE: approved
-          &.approved {
+          // control - approve
+          .control-approve {
+            position: absolute;
+            right: ($baseline/2);
+          }
+        }
 
-            .action {
-              @extend %btn-verify-primary;
-              padding: ($baseline/2) ($baseline*0.75);
+        .msg {
+          @include clearfix();
+          margin-top: ($baseline*2);
+
+          .copy {
+            float: left;
+            width: flex-grid(8,12);
+            margin-right: flex-gutter();
+          }
+
+          .list-actions {
+            position: relative;
+            top: -($baseline/2);
+            float: left;
+            width: flex-grid(4,12);
+            text-align: right;
+
+            .action-retakephotos a {
+              @extend %btn-primary-blue;
+              @include font-size(14);
+              padding: ($baseline/2) ($baseline*.75);
             }
           }
         }
 
-        // control - redo
-        .control-redo {
-          position: absolute;
-          left: ($baseline/2);
+        .msg-followup {
+          border-top: ($baseline/10) solid $m-gray-t0;
+          padding-top: $baseline;
         }
+      }
 
-        // control - take/do
-        .control-do {
-          left: 45%;
+      .review-task {
+        margin-bottom: ($baseline*1.5);
+        padding: ($baseline*0.75) $baseline;
+        border-radius: ($baseline/10);
+        background: $m-gray-l4;
+
+        &:last-child {
+          margin-bottom: 0;
         }
 
-        // control - approve
-        .control-approve {
-          position: absolute;
-          right: ($baseline/2);
+        > .title {
+          @extend %hd-lv3;
+        }
+
+        .copy {
+          @extend %copy-base;
+
+          strong {
+            @extend %t-weight5;
+            color: $m-gray-d4;
+          }
         }
       }
 
-      .msg {
+
+      // individual task - name
+      .review-task-name {
         @include clearfix();
-        margin-top: ($baseline*2);
+        border: 1px solid $light-gray;
 
         .copy {
           float: left;
@@ -2051,12 +2132,12 @@
 
         .list-actions {
           position: relative;
-          top: -($baseline/2);
+          top: -($baseline);
           float: left;
           width: flex-grid(4,12);
           text-align: right;
 
-          .action-retakephotos a {
+          .action-editname a {
             @extend %btn-primary-blue;
             @include font-size(14);
             padding: ($baseline/2) ($baseline*.75);
@@ -2064,123 +2145,67 @@
         }
       }
 
-      .msg-followup {
-        border-top: ($baseline/10) solid $m-gray-t0;
-        padding-top: $baseline;
-      }
-    }
-
+      .nav-wizard {
+        padding: ($baseline*.75) $baseline;
 
-    .review-task {
-      margin-bottom: ($baseline*1.5);
-      padding: ($baseline*0.75) $baseline;
-      border-radius: ($baseline/10);
-      background: $m-gray-l4;
+        .prompt-verify {
+          float: left;
+          width: flex-grid(6,12);
+          margin: 0 flex-gutter() 0 0;
 
-      &:last-child {
-        margin-bottom: 0;
-      }
+          .title {
+            @extend %hd-lv4;
+            margin-bottom: ($baseline/4);
+          }
 
-      > .title {
-        @extend %hd-lv3;
-      }
+          .copy {
+            @extend %t-copy-sub1;
+            @extend %t-weight3;
+          }
 
-      .copy {
-        @extend %copy-base;
+          .list-actions {
+            margin-top: ($baseline/2);
+          }
 
-        strong {
-          @extend %t-weight5;
-          color: $m-gray-d4;
+          .action-verify label  {
+            @extend %t-copy-sub1;
+          }
         }
-      }
-    }
-
-
-    // individual task - name
-    .review-task-name {
-      @include clearfix();
 
-      .copy {
-        float: left;
-        width: flex-grid(8,12);
-        margin-right: flex-gutter();
-      }
+        .wizard-steps {
+          margin-top: ($baseline/2);
 
-      .list-actions {
-        position: relative;
-        top: -($baseline);
-        float: left;
-        width: flex-grid(4,12);
-        text-align: right;
+          .wizard-step {
+            margin-right: flex-gutter();
+            display: inline-block;
+            vertical-align: middle;
 
-        .action-editname a {
-          @extend %btn-primary-blue;
-          @include font-size(14);
-          padding: ($baseline/2) ($baseline*.75);
+            &:last-child {
+              margin-right: 0;
+            }
+          }
         }
       }
-    }
 
-    .nav-wizard {
-      padding: ($baseline*.75) $baseline;
 
-      .prompt-verify {
-        float: left;
-        width: flex-grid(6,12);
-        margin: 0 flex-gutter() 0 0;
+      .modal {
 
-        .title {
-          @extend %hd-lv4;
-          margin-bottom: ($baseline/4);
+        fieldset {
+          margin-top: $baseline;
         }
 
-        .copy {
-          @extend %t-copy-sub1;
-          @extend %t-weight3;
-        }
+        .close-modal {
+          @include font-size(24);
+          color: $m-blue-d3;
 
-        .list-actions {
-          margin-top: ($baseline/2);
-        }
-
-        .action-verify label  {
-          @extend %t-copy-sub1;
-        }
-      }
-
-      .wizard-steps {
-        margin-top: ($baseline/2);
-
-        .wizard-step {
-          margin-right: flex-gutter();
-          display: inline-block;
-          vertical-align: middle;
-
-          &:last-child {
-            margin-right: 0;
+          &:hover, &:focus {
+            color: $m-blue-d1;
+            border: none;
           }
         }
       }
-    }
-
-
-    .modal {
-
-      fieldset {
-        margin-top: $baseline;
-      }
 
-      .close-modal {
-        @include font-size(24);
-        color: $m-blue-d3;
-
-        &:hover, &:focus {
-          color: $m-blue-d1;
-          border: none;
-        }
-      }
     }
-
   }
 
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_prompt_midcourse_reverify.html b/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_prompt_midcourse_reverify.html
index baa37d714891d243caa1f78d3d24c13c96de24f9..3714446377bd53e6178dc3ec5b14bb2aa529a9aa 100644
--- a/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_prompt_midcourse_reverify.html
+++ b/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_prompt_midcourse_reverify.html
@@ -2,8 +2,9 @@
 <%! from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse %>
 <!--TODO replace this with something a clever deisgn person approves of-->
 <!--TODO replace this with a shiny loopy thing to actually print out all courses-->
+
 % if reverifications["must_reverify"]:
-<div class="wrapper-msg">
+<div class="wrapper-msg urgency-high">
   <div class="msg msg-reverify has-actions">
       <div class="msg-content">
         <h2 class="title">${_("You need to re-verify to continue")}</h2>
@@ -27,8 +28,8 @@
 %endif
 
 %if reverifications["denied"]:
-<div class="wrapper-msg">
-  <div class="msg msg-reverify has-actions">
+<div class="wrapper-msg urgency-low">
+  <div class="msg msg-reverify is-dismissable">
       <div class="msg-content">
         <h2 class="title">${_("Your re-verification failed")}</h2>
         % for course_id, course_name, course_number, date, status in reverifications["denied"]:
@@ -38,6 +39,9 @@
           </p>
         </div>
       </div>
+      <div class="action-dismiss">
+        <button class="button-dismiss"><i class="icon-remove-sign"></i> <span class="sr">Dismiss</span></button>
+      </div>
     </div>
   </div>
 </div>
diff --git a/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_reverification_sidebar.html b/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_reverification_sidebar.html
index 561a235ba200c766fc9eac9840627a7f5d9c2320..fd779564fa5da5c6436c030052f18724dc771634 100644
--- a/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_reverification_sidebar.html
+++ b/lms/templates/dashboard/_dashboard_reverification_sidebar.html
@@ -2,31 +2,36 @@
 <%! from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse %>
 <!--TODO replace this with something a clever deisgn person approves of-->
 <!--TODO replace this with a shiny loopy thing to actually print out all courses-->
+
 % if reverifications["must_reverify"] or reverifications["pending"] or reverifications["denied"] or reverifications["approved"]:
+<li class="status status-verification is-accepted">
+  <span class="title status-title">${_("Re-verification now open for:")}</span>
+
+    <ul class="reverify-status-list">
 
-    <h2 class="title">${_("Re-verification now open for")}</h2>
     % if reverifications["must_reverify"]:
         % for course_id, course_name, course_number, date, status in reverifications["must_reverify"]:
-            ${_('Must Reverify: <strong>{course_name}</strong>').format(course_name=course_name)}
+            <li class="status-item is-open">${_('<i class="icon-circle"></i><span class="label">Re-verify now:</span> <span class="course-name"><a href="">{course_name}</span></a>').format(course_name=course_name)}</li>
         % endfor
     %endif
 
     % if reverifications["pending"]:
         % for course_id, course_name, course_number, date, status in reverifications["pending"]:
-            ${_('Denied: <strong>{course_name}</strong>').format(course_name=course_name)}
+            <li class="status-item is-pending">${_('<i class="icon-circle"></i><span class="label">Pending:</span> <span class="course-name"><a href="">{course_name}</span></a>').format(course_name=course_name)}</li>
         % endfor
     %endif
 
     % if reverifications["denied"]:
         % for course_id, course_name, course_number, date, status in reverifications["denied"]:
-            ${_('Denied: <strong>{course_name}</strong>').format(course_name=course_name)}
+            <li class="status-item is-denied">${_('<i class="icon-remove-sign"></i><span class="label">Denied:</span> <span class="course-name"><a href="">{course_name}</span></a>').format(course_name=course_name)}</li>
         % endfor
     %endif
 
     % if reverifications["approved"]:
         % for course_id, course_name, course_number, date, status in reverifications["approved"]:
-            ${_('Denied: <strong>{course_name}</strong>').format(course_name=course_name)}
+            <li class="status-item is-approved">${_('<i class="icon-ok"></i><span class="label">Approved:</span> <span class="course-name"><a href="">{course_name}</span></a>').format(course_name=course_name)}</li>
         % endfor
     %endif
-
-%endif
\ No newline at end of file
+    </ul>
+</li>
+%endif