diff --git a/app/views/layouts/base_courses.html.erb b/app/views/layouts/base_courses.html.erb
index 5989eafc7..471902c7a 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/base_courses.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/layouts/base_courses.html.erb
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
         <div class="subNav">
           <%= link_to l(:label_course_board), course_boards_path(@course), :class => "f14 c_blue02" %>
           <%= link_to "(#{@course.boards[0].topics.count})", course_boards_path(@course), :class => "subnav_num c_orange" %>
-          <%= link_to( "+#{l(:label_message_new)}", new_board_message_path(@course.boards[0]), :class => 'subnav_green ml95 c_white') if is_teacher %>
+          <%= link_to( "+#{l(:label_message_new)}", new_board_message_path(@course.boards[0]), :class => 'subnav_green ml95 c_white') if User.current.member_of_course?(@course) %>
         </div>
         <div class="subNav">
           <%= link_to l(:label_course_feedback), course_feedback_path(@course), :class => "f14 c_blue02" %>