Index: lams_common/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/util/WebUtil.java
===================================================================
diff -u -r7b5ee95d969b4783ead875cf9eaee6c9f0cbde7f -r69583b6ab9e6405f7d9c943f4b2b575eb308f866
--- lams_common/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/util/WebUtil.java	(.../WebUtil.java)	(revision 7b5ee95d969b4783ead875cf9eaee6c9f0cbde7f)
+++ lams_common/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/util/WebUtil.java	(.../WebUtil.java)	(revision 69583b6ab9e6405f7d9c943f4b2b575eb308f866)
@@ -331,7 +331,9 @@
     public static ToolAccessMode readToolAccessModeParam(HttpServletRequest request, String param_mode,boolean optional)
     {
         String mode = readStrParam(request, param_mode,optional);
-        if(mode.equals(ToolAccessMode.AUTHOR.toString()))
+        if (mode == null) {
+        	return null;
+        } else if(mode.equals(ToolAccessMode.AUTHOR.toString()))
             return ToolAccessMode.AUTHOR;
         else if(mode.equals(ToolAccessMode.LEARNER.toString()))
             return ToolAccessMode.LEARNER;