diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy.yaml b/.github/workflows/deploy-prod.yaml
similarity index 57%
rename from .github/workflows/deploy.yaml
rename to .github/workflows/deploy-prod.yaml
index 9c63594..6ec1078 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-prod.yaml
@@ -1,75 +1,130 @@
-name: Deploy
+name: Deploy to Production
 
 on:
-  workflow_run:
-    workflows: [ "Pre-Commit Checks" ]
-    types:
-      - completed
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+env:
+  # Array of usernames allowed to trigger production deploys
+  ALLOWED_USERS: '["aditeyabaral", "achyu-dev", "ndigvijay"]'
 
 jobs:
-  # Docker build and push (main only)
+  # Sync dev branch to main before deployment
+  sync-dev-to-main:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: ${{ contains(fromJson(env.ALLOWED_USERS), github.actor) }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Configure Git
+        run: |
+          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
+          git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
+
+      - name: Fetch all branches
+        run: |
+          git fetch origin dev
+          git fetch origin main
+
+      - name: Checkout main branch
+        run: git checkout main
+
+      - name: Merge dev into main
+        run: |
+          git merge --ff-only origin/dev || {
+            echo "❌ Fast-forward merge failed. Manual conflict resolution required."
+            echo "Please ensure dev branch is ahead of main with no conflicts."
+            git merge --abort
+            exit 1
+          }
+
+      - name: Push updated main branch
+        run: git push origin main
+
+  # Build and push Docker images
   push-to-dockerhub:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: ${{ github.event.workflow_run.head_branch == 'main' && github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success' }}
+    needs: sync-dev-to-main
+    if: ${{ contains(fromJson(env.ALLOWED_USERS), github.actor) }}
     env:
       DOCKER_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }}
       DOCKER_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: main
+
       - name: Check Docker credentials
         run: |
           if [ -z "${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }}" ] || [ -z "${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }}" ]; then
-            echo "Secrets missing, skipping push"
+            echo "❌ Docker credentials missing, skipping Docker Hub push"
             exit 1
           fi
+
       - name: Get short commit hash
         id: vars
         run: echo "tag=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
       - name: Log in to Docker Hub
         uses: docker/login-action@v3
         with:
           username: ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }}
           password: ${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }}
+
       - name: Build and tag image
         run: |
           docker build . --tag ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }}/pesu-auth:${{ steps.vars.outputs.tag }}
           docker tag ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }}/pesu-auth:${{ steps.vars.outputs.tag }} ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }}/pesu-auth:latest
+
       - name: Push image to Docker Hub
         run: |
           docker push ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }}/pesu-auth:${{ steps.vars.outputs.tag }}
           docker push ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }}/pesu-auth:latest
 
-  # GHCR build and push (main only)
+  # Push to GitHub Container Registry
   push-to-ghcr:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: ${{ github.event.workflow_run.head_branch == 'main' && github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success' }}
+    needs: sync-dev-to-main
+    if: ${{ contains(fromJson(env.ALLOWED_USERS), github.actor) }}
     permissions:
       contents: read
       packages: write
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          ref: main
+
       - name: Get short commit hash
         id: vars
         run: echo "tag=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
       - name: Log in to GitHub Container Registry
         uses: docker/login-action@v3
         with:
           registry: ghcr.io
           username: ${{ github.actor }}
           password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
       - name: Build and tag image for GHCR
         run: |
           docker build . --tag ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/pesu-auth:${{ steps.vars.outputs.tag }}
           docker tag ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/pesu-auth:${{ steps.vars.outputs.tag }} ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/pesu-auth:latest
+
       - name: Push image to GitHub Container Registry
         run: |
           docker push ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/pesu-auth:${{ steps.vars.outputs.tag }}
           docker push ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/pesu-auth:latest
 
-  # Deploy both environments on main
+  # Deploy to both Production and Staging
   deploy-prod-and-staging:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: ${{ github.event.workflow_run.head_branch == 'main' && github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success' }}
+    needs: [sync-dev-to-main, push-to-dockerhub, push-to-ghcr]
+    if: ${{ contains(fromJson(env.ALLOWED_USERS), github.actor) }}
     env:
       RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_PROD: ${{ secrets.RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_PROD }}
       RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV: ${{ secrets.RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV }}
@@ -77,13 +132,14 @@ jobs:
       - name: Check Deploy Hook URLs
         run: |
           if [ -z "${{ secrets.RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_PROD }}" ]; then
-            echo "Production deploy hook missing!"
+            echo "❌ Production deploy hook missing!"
             exit 1
           fi
           if [ -z "${{ secrets.RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV }}" ]; then
-            echo "Staging deploy hook missing!"
+            echo "❌ Staging deploy hook missing!"
             exit 1
           fi
+
       - name: Deploy to Production
         run: |
           echo "🚀 Deploying to Production..."
@@ -91,31 +147,21 @@ jobs:
             echo "❌ Production deploy failed!"
             exit 1
           }
-      - name: Sync Staging with Production
-        run: |
-          echo "🚀 Deploying to Staging (mirror prod)..."
-          curl -X POST ${{ secrets.RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV }} || {
-            echo "❌ Staging deploy failed!"
-            exit 1
-          }
+          echo "✅ Production deployment completed successfully!"
 
-  # Deploy only to staging on dev
-  deploy-staging-only:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: ${{ github.event.workflow_run.head_branch == 'dev' && github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success' }}
-    env:
-      RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV: ${{ secrets.RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV }}
-    steps:
-      - name: Check Staging Deploy Hook URL
-        run: |
-          if [ -z "${{ secrets.RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV }}" ]; then
-            echo "Staging deploy hook missing!"
-            exit 1
-          fi
-      - name: Deploy to Staging (Dev branch)
+      - name: Deploy to Staging
         run: |
           echo "🚀 Deploying to Staging..."
           curl -X POST ${{ secrets.RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV }} || {
             echo "❌ Staging deploy failed!"
             exit 1
           }
+          echo "✅ Staging deployment completed successfully!"
+
+      - name: Deployment Summary
+        run: |
+          echo "🎉 All deployments completed successfully!"
+          echo "✅ Branch sync: dev → main"
+          echo "✅ Docker images: pushed to Docker Hub and GHCR"
+          echo "✅ Production: deployed"
+          echo "✅ Staging: deployed"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy-staging.yaml b/.github/workflows/deploy-staging.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..10813b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy-staging.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+name: Deploy to Staging
+
+on:
+  workflow_run:
+    workflows: [ "Pre-Commit Checks" ]
+    types:
+      - completed
+
+jobs:
+  # Deploy to staging environment
+  deploy-staging:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    if: ${{ github.event.workflow_run.conclusion == 'success' && github.event.workflow_run.head_branch == 'dev' }}
+    env:
+      RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV: ${{ secrets.RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV }}
+    steps:
+      - name: Check Staging Deploy Hook URL
+        run: |
+          if [ -z "${{ secrets.RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV }}" ]; then
+            echo "❌ Staging deploy hook missing!"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+      - name: Deploy to Staging Environment
+        run: |
+          echo "🚀 Deploying to Staging..."
+          curl -X POST ${{ secrets.RENDER_DEPLOY_HOOK_URL_DEV }} || {
+            echo "❌ Staging deploy failed!"
+            exit 1
+          }
+          echo "✅ Staging deployment completed successfully!"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker.yaml b/.github/workflows/docker.yaml
index 30b69fb..2f0e9f6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docker.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker.yaml
@@ -1,15 +1,22 @@
 name: Docker Image Build
 
-on: [ push, pull_request ]
+on:
+  push:
+    branches-ignore:
+      - main
+      - dev
+  pull_request:
+    types:
+      - opened
+      - synchronize
+      - reopened
 
 jobs:
-
   build:
-
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Get short commit hash
         id: vars
diff --git a/.github/workflows/lint.yaml b/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
index c70cdda..ccb485f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/lint.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 name: Lint
 
-on: [ push, pull_request ]
+on:
+  push:
+    branches-ignore:
+      - main
+      - dev
+  pull_request:
+    types:
+      - opened
+      - synchronize
+      - reopened
 
 jobs:
   lint:
@@ -11,14 +20,11 @@ jobs:
         python-version: [ "3.11", "3.12", "3.13" ]
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v3
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-      - name: Install dependencies
-        run: |
-          pip install -r requirements.txt
 
       - name: Install Ruff
         run: pip install ruff
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yaml b/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yaml
index 10898ba..c4e7349 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pre-commit.yaml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ name: Pre-Commit Checks
 on: [ push, pull_request ]
 
 jobs:
-  pre-commit:
+  pre-commit-checks:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       max-parallel: 1
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ jobs:
       TEST_SRN: ${{ secrets.TEST_SRN }}
       TEST_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.TEST_PASSWORD }}
       TEST_BRANCH: ${{ secrets.TEST_BRANCH }}
-      TEST_BRANCH_SHORT_CODE: ${{ secrets.TEST_BRANCH_SHORT_CODE }}
       TEST_PROGRAM: ${{ secrets.TEST_PROGRAM }}
       TEST_SEMESTER: ${{ secrets.TEST_SEMESTER }}
       TEST_SECTION: ${{ secrets.TEST_SECTION }}
@@ -26,18 +25,17 @@ jobs:
       TEST_CAMPUS_CODE: ${{ secrets.TEST_CAMPUS_CODE }}
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v3
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          pip install -r requirements.txt
-          pip install pre-commit pytest pytest-cov httpx python-dotenv pytest-asyncio
+          pip install .[dev]
 
       - name: Run pre-commit hooks
         run: pre-commit run --all-files
diff --git a/.github/workflows/source.yaml b/.github/workflows/source.yaml
index d3bcadf..b637698 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/source.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/source.yaml
@@ -26,25 +26,21 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Validate PR origin and target branch
         run: |
-          # Allow dev → main PRs, but only if it's within the same repo (not a fork)
-          if [ "$SOURCE_REPO" = "$TARGET_REPO" ] && [ "$SOURCE_BRANCH" = "dev" ] && [ "$TARGET_BRANCH" = "main" ]; then
-            echo "✅ Dev to Main PR (release) allowed (same repo)."
-            exit 0
-          fi
-
-          # Otherwise: PRs must come from a fork, non-main branch, targeting dev
+          # PRs must come from a fork
           if [ "$SOURCE_REPO" = "$TARGET_REPO" ]; then
-            echo "❌ PR must come from a fork (not the main repo)."
+            echo "❌ PR must come from a fork."
             exit 1
           fi
 
+          # PRs cannot come from the 'main' branch of a fork
           if [ "$SOURCE_BRANCH" = "main" ]; then
             echo "❌ PR cannot come from the 'main' branch of a fork."
             exit 1
           fi
 
+          # PRs must target the 'dev' branch only
           if [ "$TARGET_BRANCH" != "dev" ]; then
-            echo "❌ PR must target the 'dev' branch (unless it's a dev → main release)."
+            echo "❌ PR must target the 'dev' branch only. PRs to 'main' are not allowed."
             exit 1
           fi