diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/com/rit/portal/controller/CollabController.java b/backend/src/main/java/com/rit/portal/controller/CollabController.java
index 927223d..63b977c 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/com/rit/portal/controller/CollabController.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/com/rit/portal/controller/CollabController.java
@@ -136,6 +136,9 @@ public class CollabController {
             @RequestParam String status) {
         return collabApplicationRepository.findById(applicationId).map(app -> {
             String newStatus = status.toUpperCase();
+            if ("DECLINED".equals(newStatus) || "DECLINE".equals(newStatus) || "REJECT".equals(newStatus)) {
+                newStatus = "REJECTED";
+            }
             String oldStatus = app.getStatus();
             app.setStatus(newStatus);
             CollabApplication updated = collabApplicationRepository.save(app);
diff --git a/src/pages/DevCollab/DevCollab.tsx b/src/pages/DevCollab/DevCollab.tsx
index a7876ba..405970f 100644
--- a/src/pages/DevCollab/DevCollab.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/DevCollab/DevCollab.tsx
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ export default function DevCollab() {
   const { user, isAuthenticated, isVerifiedStudent, loginWithGoogle } = useAuth();
 
   const [activeTab, setActiveTab] = useState<'explore' | 'my-requests' | 'my-applications'>('explore');
-  const [requests, setRequests] = useState<CollabRequestItem[]>(INITIAL_MOCK_REQUESTS);
+  const [requests, setRequests] = useState<CollabRequestItem[]>([]);
   const [myRequests, setMyRequests] = useState<CollabRequestItem[]>([]);
   const [myApplications, setMyApplications] = useState<CollabApplicationItem[]>([]);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ export default function DevCollab() {
         return res.json();
       })
       .then((data) => {
-        if (Array.isArray(data) && data.length > 0) {
+        if (Array.isArray(data)) {
           setRequests(data);
         }
       })
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ export default function DevCollab() {
                   {myApplications.map((app) => {
                     const status = app.status?.toUpperCase() || 'PENDING';
                     const isAccepted = status === 'ACCEPTED';
-                    const isRejected = status === 'REJECTED';
+                    const isRejected = status === 'REJECTED' || status === 'DECLINED';
 
                     return (
                       <div
diff --git a/telegram-bot/telegram_bot.py b/telegram-bot/telegram_bot.py
index 413e402..3e2eae5 100644
--- a/telegram-bot/telegram_bot.py
+++ b/telegram-bot/telegram_bot.py
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ def telegram_polling_thread():
                         parts = cb_data.split("_")
                         app_id = parts[2]
                         try:
-                            requests.put(f"{backend_url}/api/collab/applications/{app_id}/status?status=DECLINED", timeout=5)
+                            requests.put(f"{backend_url}/api/collab/applications/{app_id}/status?status=REJECTED", timeout=5)
                         except Exception as e:
                             logging.error(f"Error updating app status: {e}")
                             
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ class DiscordCollabActionView(discord.ui.View):
     @discord.ui.button(label="Decline Request", style=discord.ButtonStyle.danger, emoji="❌")
     async def decline_button(self, interaction: discord.Interaction, button: discord.ui.Button):
         try:
-            requests.put(f"{BACKEND_URL}/api/collab/applications/{self.application_id}/status?status=DECLINED", timeout=5)
+            requests.put(f"{BACKEND_URL}/api/collab/applications/{self.application_id}/status?status=REJECTED", timeout=5)
             await interaction.response.send_message("❌ **Collaboration Request Declined.**", ephemeral=False)
             for item in self.children:
                 item.disabled = True