Index: sections-service/sections-api/src/java/org/sakaiproject/section/api/SectionManager.java
===================================================================
--- sections-service/sections-api/src/java/org/sakaiproject/section/api/SectionManager.java	(revision 93224)
+++ sections-service/sections-api/src/java/org/sakaiproject/section/api/SectionManager.java	(working copy)
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 import java.util.Locale;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.Calendar;
 
 import org.sakaiproject.section.api.coursemanagement.Course;
 import org.sakaiproject.section.api.coursemanagement.CourseSection;
@@ -529,5 +530,12 @@
 	public ExternalIntegrationConfig getConfiguration(Object obj);
 
 	public static final String CONFIGURATION_KEY="section.info.integration";
-
+	/**
+	* Determines when the section options are open to students.
+	*
+	* @param courseUuid
+	* @return
+	*/
+	public Calendar getOpenDate(String courseUid);
+	public void setOpenDate(String courseUuid,Calendar openDate);
 }
Index: sections-service/sections-impl/sakai/impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/section/sakai/SectionManagerImpl.java
===================================================================
--- sections-service/sections-impl/sakai/impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/section/sakai/SectionManagerImpl.java	(revision 93224)
+++ sections-service/sections-impl/sakai/impl/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/section/sakai/SectionManagerImpl.java	(working copy)
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 import java.util.Locale;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.Calendar;
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils;
 import org.apache.commons.logging.Log;
@@ -1732,4 +1733,49 @@
 	public void setThreadLocalManager(ThreadLocalManager threadLocalManager) {
 		this.threadLocalManager = threadLocalManager;
 	}
+	public Calendar getOpenDate(String siteId) {
+		//Reference ref = entityManager.newReference(courseUuid);
+		//String siteId = ref.getId();
+		Site site;
+		try {
+			site = siteService().getSite(siteId);
+		} catch (IdUnusedException e) {
+			throw new RuntimeException("Can not find site " + siteId, e);
+		}
+		ResourceProperties props = site.getProperties();
+		String open=props.getProperty(CourseImpl.STUDENT_OPEN_DATE);
+		Calendar c=null;
+		if (open!=null && open.length()>0){
+			c = Calendar.getInstance();
+			c.setTimeInMillis(Long.parseLong(open));
+		}
+		return c;
+	}
+
+	public void setOpenDate(String courseUuid, Calendar openDate) {
+		// Disallow if the service is configured to be mandatory
+		Reference ref = entityManager.newReference(courseUuid);
+		String siteId = ref.getId();
+		Site site;
+		try {
+			site = siteService().getSite(siteId);
+		} catch (IdUnusedException e) {
+			throw new RuntimeException("Can not find site " + courseUuid, e);
+		}
+		ResourceProperties props = site.getProperties();
+		// Update the site
+		if (openDate!=null) {
+			props.addProperty(CourseImpl.STUDENT_OPEN_DATE, Long.toString(openDate.getTimeInMillis()));
+		} else {
+			props.addProperty(CourseImpl.STUDENT_OPEN_DATE, null);
+		}
+		try {
+			siteService().save(site);
+			if(log.isDebugEnabled()) log.debug("Saved site " + site.getTitle());
+		} catch (IdUnusedException ide) {
+			log.error("Error saving site... could not find site " + site, ide);
+		} catch (PermissionException pe) {
+			log.error("Error saving site... permission denied for " + site, pe);
+		}
+	}
 }
Index: sections-service/sections-impl/sakai/model/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/section/sakai/CourseImpl.java
===================================================================
--- sections-service/sections-impl/sakai/model/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/section/sakai/CourseImpl.java	(revision 93224)
+++ sections-service/sections-impl/sakai/model/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/section/sakai/CourseImpl.java	(working copy)
@@ -36,7 +36,8 @@
 	public static final String EXTERNALLY_MAINTAINED = "sections_externally_maintained";
 	public static final String STUDENT_REGISTRATION_ALLOWED = "sections_student_registration_allowed";
 	public static final String STUDENT_SWITCHING_ALLOWED = "sections_student_switching_allowed";
-	
+	public static final String STUDENT_OPEN_DATE = "sections_student_open_date";
+
 	/**
 	 * Creates a course from a sakai Site
 	 * 
Index: sections-service/sections-impl/standalone/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/section/SectionManagerHibernateImpl.java
===================================================================
--- sections-service/sections-impl/standalone/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/section/SectionManagerHibernateImpl.java	(revision 93224)
+++ sections-service/sections-impl/standalone/src/java/org/sakaiproject/component/section/SectionManagerHibernateImpl.java	(working copy)
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 import java.util.ResourceBundle;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.UUID;
+import java.util.Calendar;
 
 import javax.servlet.ServletContext;
 import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
@@ -958,4 +959,22 @@
 		}
 		return hibernateEntities;
 	}
+
+	public Calendar getOpenDate(String courseUid) {
+		Calendar c = Calendar.getInstance();
+		c.add(Calendar.DAY_OF_MONTH,-1);
+		return c;
+	}
+
+	public void setOpenDate(final String courseUuid, final Calendar openDate) {
+		HibernateCallback hc = new HibernateCallback(){
+			public Object doInHibernate(Session session) throws HibernateException {
+				CourseImpl course = (CourseImpl)getCourseFromUuid(courseUuid, session);
+				//course.setOpenDate(openDate);
+				session.update(course);
+				return null;
+			}
+		};
+		getHibernateTemplate().execute(hc);
+	}	
 }