diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 20bbcfd7..94274699 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ terraform/.terraform/
 */terraform.tfstate*
 */terraform.tfvars
 
-#Alex env files 
-backend/.env.alex
 
 # Misc
 TODO.txt
diff --git a/backend/internal/github/github.go b/backend/internal/github/github.go
index 85a0ee15..44a2d092 100644
--- a/backend/internal/github/github.go
+++ b/backend/internal/github/github.go
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ type GitHubBaseClient interface { //All methods in the SHARED client
 	// Create a new branch in a repository
 	CreateBranch(ctx context.Context, owner, repo, baseBranch, newBranchName string) (*github.Reference, error)
 
+	// List the branches in a repository
+	ListBranches(ctx context.Context, owner string, repo string, opts *github.ListOptions) ([]*github.Branch, error)
+
 	// Get the details of a pull request
 	GetPullRequest(ctx context.Context, owner string, repo string, pullNumber int) (*github.PullRequest, error)
 
diff --git a/backend/internal/github/sharedclient/sharedclient.go b/backend/internal/github/sharedclient/sharedclient.go
index 849a3495..c41697aa 100644
--- a/backend/internal/github/sharedclient/sharedclient.go
+++ b/backend/internal/github/sharedclient/sharedclient.go
@@ -43,8 +43,20 @@ func (api *CommonAPI) ListRepositoriesByOrg(ctx context.Context, orgName string,
 
 func (api *CommonAPI) ListCommits(ctx context.Context, owner string, repo string, opts *github.CommitsListOptions) ([]*github.RepositoryCommit, error) {
 	commits, _, err := api.Client.Repositories.ListCommits(ctx, owner, repo, opts)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error listing commits: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	return commits, nil
+}
+
+func (api *CommonAPI) ListBranches(ctx context.Context, owner string, repo string, opts *github.ListOptions) ([]*github.Branch, error) {
+	branches, _, err := api.Client.Repositories.ListBranches(ctx, owner, repo, opts)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error listing branches: %v", err)
+	}
 
-	return commits, err
+	return branches, nil
 }
 
 func (api *CommonAPI) getBranchHead(ctx context.Context, owner, repo, branchName string) (*github.Reference, error) {
diff --git a/backend/internal/handlers/classrooms/assignments/assignments.go b/backend/internal/handlers/classrooms/assignments/assignments.go
index 35123fa5..dd5b17df 100644
--- a/backend/internal/handlers/classrooms/assignments/assignments.go
+++ b/backend/internal/handlers/classrooms/assignments/assignments.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/CamPlume1/khoury-classroom/internal/models"
 	"github.com/CamPlume1/khoury-classroom/internal/utils"
 	"github.com/gofiber/fiber/v2"
+	"github.com/google/go-github/github"
 	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5"
 )
 
@@ -517,16 +518,45 @@ func (s *AssignmentService) GetFirstCommitDate() fiber.Handler {
 
 func (s *AssignmentService) GetCommitCount() fiber.Handler {
 	return func(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
+		classroomID, err := strconv.Atoi(c.Params("classroom_id"))
+		if err != nil {
+			return errs.BadRequest(err)
+		}
+
 		assignmentID, err := strconv.Atoi(c.Params("assignment_id"))
 		if err != nil {
 			return errs.BadRequest(err)
 		}
 
-		totalCommits, err := s.store.GetTotalWorkCommits(c.Context(), assignmentID)
+		works, err := s.store.GetWorks(c.Context(), classroomID, assignmentID)
 		if err != nil {
 			return errs.InternalServerError()
 		}
 
+		totalCommits := 0
+		for _, work := range works {
+			var branchOpts github.ListOptions
+            branches, err := s.appClient.ListBranches(c.Context(), work.OrgName, work.RepoName, &branchOpts)
+            if err != nil {
+                return errs.GithubAPIError(err)
+            }
+            var allCommits []*github.RepositoryCommit
+
+            for  _, branch := range branches {
+                var opts github.CommitsListOptions
+                // Assumes a single contirbutor, KHO-144
+		        opts.Author = work.Contributors[0].GithubUsername
+                opts.SHA = *branch.Name
+		        commits, err := s.appClient.ListCommits(c.Context(), work.OrgName, work.RepoName, &opts)
+		        if err != nil {
+			        return errs.GithubAPIError(err)
+		        }
+                allCommits = append(allCommits, commits...)
+            }
+            totalCommits += len(allCommits)
+
+		}
+
 		return c.Status(http.StatusOK).JSON(fiber.Map{
 			"assignment_id": assignmentID,
 			"total_commits": totalCommits,
diff --git a/backend/internal/handlers/classrooms/assignments/works/works.go b/backend/internal/handlers/classrooms/assignments/works/works.go
index 66140a06..d0d430fd 100644
--- a/backend/internal/handlers/classrooms/assignments/works/works.go
+++ b/backend/internal/handlers/classrooms/assignments/works/works.go
@@ -275,9 +275,43 @@ func (s *WorkService) GetCommitCount() fiber.Handler {
 			return err
 		}
 
+		totalCount := work.CommitAmount
+		// Zero either implies bad data or no commits, double check to be safe
+		if totalCount == 0 {
+            var branchOpts github.ListOptions
+            branches, err := s.appClient.ListBranches(c.Context(), work.OrgName, work.RepoName, &branchOpts)
+            if err != nil {
+                return errs.GithubAPIError(err)
+            }
+            var allCommits []*github.RepositoryCommit
+
+            for  _, branch := range branches {
+                var opts github.CommitsListOptions
+                // Assumes a single contirbutor, KHO-144
+		        opts.Author = work.Contributors[0].GithubUsername
+                opts.SHA = *branch.Name
+		        commits, err := s.appClient.ListCommits(c.Context(), work.OrgName, work.RepoName, &opts)
+		        if err != nil {
+			        return errs.GithubAPIError(err)
+		        }
+                allCommits = append(allCommits, commits...)
+            }
+            totalCount = len(allCommits)
+            
+            // If there were commits, update the student work
+            if totalCount != 0 {
+                work.StudentWork.CommitAmount = totalCount
+                _, err := s.store.UpdateStudentWork(c.Context(), work.StudentWork)
+                if err != nil {
+                    return errs.InternalServerError()
+                }
+            }
+		}
+
+
 		return c.Status(http.StatusOK).JSON(fiber.Map{
 			"work_id":      work.ID,
-			"commit_count": work.CommitAmount,
+			"commit_count": totalCount,
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -289,15 +323,29 @@ func (s *WorkService) GetCommitsPerDay() fiber.Handler {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		var opts github.CommitsListOptions
-		opts.Author = work.Contributors[0].GithubUsername
-		commits, err := s.appClient.ListCommits(c.Context(), work.OrgName, work.RepoName, &opts)
-		if err != nil {
-			return errs.GithubAPIError(err)
-		}
+
+        var branchOpts github.ListOptions
+        branches, err := s.appClient.ListBranches(c.Context(), work.OrgName, work.RepoName, &branchOpts)
+        if err != nil {
+            return errs.GithubAPIError(err)
+        }
+        var allCommits []*github.RepositoryCommit
+
+        for  _, branch := range branches {
+            var opts github.CommitsListOptions
+            // Assumes a single contirbutor, KHO-144
+		    opts.Author = work.Contributors[0].GithubUsername
+            opts.SHA = *branch.Name
+		    commits, err := s.appClient.ListCommits(c.Context(), work.OrgName, work.RepoName, &opts)
+		    if err != nil {
+			    return errs.GithubAPIError(err)
+		    }
+            allCommits = append(allCommits, commits...)
+        }
+        
 
 		commitDatesMap := make(map[time.Time]int)
-		for _, commit := range commits {
+		for _, commit := range allCommits {
 			commitDate := commit.GetCommit().GetCommitter().Date
 			if commitDate != nil {
 				// Standardize times to midday UTC
@@ -319,9 +367,47 @@ func (s *WorkService) GetFirstCommitDate() fiber.Handler {
 			return err
 		}
 
+		fcd := work.FirstCommitDate
+
+		if fcd == nil {
+            var branchOpts github.ListOptions
+            branches, err := s.appClient.ListBranches(c.Context(), work.OrgName, work.RepoName, &branchOpts)
+            if err != nil {
+                return errs.GithubAPIError(err)
+            }
+            fmt.Println(branches)
+            var allCommits []*github.RepositoryCommit
+
+            for  _, branch := range branches {
+                var opts github.CommitsListOptions
+                // Assumes a single contirbutor, KHO-144
+		        opts.Author = work.Contributors[0].GithubUsername
+                opts.SHA = *branch.Name
+		        commits, err := s.appClient.ListCommits(c.Context(), work.OrgName, work.RepoName, &opts)
+		        if err != nil {
+			        return errs.GithubAPIError(err)
+		        }
+                allCommits = append(allCommits, commits...)
+            }
+        
+
+
+			if len(allCommits) > 0 {
+			    fcd = allCommits[len(allCommits)-1].GetCommit().GetCommitter().Date
+                  
+                work.StudentWork.FirstCommitDate = fcd
+                _, err := s.store.UpdateStudentWork(c.Context(), work.StudentWork)
+                if err != nil {
+                    return errs.InternalServerError()
+                }
+            
+			}
+
+		}
+
 		return c.Status(http.StatusOK).JSON(fiber.Map{
 			"work_id":         work.ID,
-			"first_commit_at": work.FirstCommitDate,
+			"first_commit_at": fcd,
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/backend/internal/storage/postgres/works.go b/backend/internal/storage/postgres/works.go
index bef920c8..e4fe1ecb 100644
--- a/backend/internal/storage/postgres/works.go
+++ b/backend/internal/storage/postgres/works.go
@@ -221,19 +221,15 @@ func (db *DB) UpdateStudentWork(ctx context.Context, studentWork models.StudentW
 		SET assignment_outline_id = $1,
 			repo_name = $2,
 			unique_due_date = $3,
-			manual_feedback_score = $4,
-			auto_grader_score = $5,
-			grades_published_timestamp = $6,
-			work_state = $7,
-			commit_amount = $8,
-			first_commit_date = $9,
-			last_commit_date = $10
-		WHERE id = $11
+			grades_published_timestamp = $4,
+			work_state = $5,
+			commit_amount = $6,
+			first_commit_date = $7,
+			last_commit_date = $8
+		WHERE id = $9
 	`, studentWork.AssignmentOutlineID,
 		studentWork.RepoName,
 		studentWork.UniqueDueDate,
-		studentWork.ManualFeedbackScore,
-		studentWork.AutoGraderScore,
 		studentWork.GradesPublishedTimestamp,
 		studentWork.WorkState,
 		studentWork.CommitAmount,
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/assignments.ts b/frontend/src/api/assignments.ts
index 6bb20853..a231dda7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/assignments.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/assignments.ts
@@ -277,5 +277,6 @@ export const getAssignmentTotalCommits = async (
     throw new Error("Network response was not ok");
   }
   const resp = await response.json();
-  return resp;
+  console.log("totoa", resp.total_commits)
+  return resp.total_commits;
 };
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/student_works.ts b/frontend/src/api/student_works.ts
index cc257ae3..1a9a0b43 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/student_works.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/student_works.ts
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ export const getFirstCommit = async (
 ): Promise<Date> => {
   const response = await fetch(
     `${base_url}/classrooms/classroom/${classroomID}/assignments/assignment/${assignmentID}/works/work/${studentWorkID}/first-commit`,
-    {
+    { 
       method: "GET",
       credentials: "include",
       headers: {
@@ -111,8 +111,10 @@ export const getFirstCommit = async (
   if (!response.ok) {
     throw new Error("Network response was not ok");
   }
-  const resp = ((await response.json()) as Date);
-  return resp;
+  const resp = (await response.json());
+  const date = resp.first_commit_at as Date
+  return date;
+
 }
 
 export const getTotalCommits = async (
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useAssignment.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useAssignment.ts
index 575e47cf..7b6a5377 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useAssignment.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useAssignment.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import {
   getAssignmentIndirectNav,
   getAssignments,
   getAssignmentTemplate,
+  getAssignmentTotalCommits,
   postAssignmentToken,
 } from "@/api/assignments";
 import {
@@ -114,6 +115,25 @@ export const useAssignmentTemplate = (classroomId: number | undefined, assignmen
   });
 };
 
+/**
+ * Provides the number of commits made for this assignment
+ * 
+ * @param classroomId - The ID of the classroom to fetch the template for.
+ * @param assignmentId - The ID of the assignment to fetch the template for.
+ * @returns The the number of commits made for this assignment.
+ */
+export const useAssignmentTotalCommits = (classroomId: number | undefined, assignmentId: number | undefined) => {
+  return useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['totalAssignmentCommits', classroomId, assignmentId],
+    queryFn: async () => {
+      if (!classroomId || !assignmentId) return null;
+      console.log("called...")
+      return await getAssignmentTotalCommits(classroomId, assignmentId);
+    },
+    enabled: !!classroomId && !!assignmentId
+  });
+};
+
 /**
  * Provides the acceptance metrics for an assignment.
  * 
diff --git a/frontend/src/main.tsx b/frontend/src/main.tsx
index 90c96cc6..ae45a563 100644
--- a/frontend/src/main.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/main.tsx
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ const queryClient = new QueryClient({
   }),
   defaultOptions: {
     queries: {
-      staleTime: 5 * 1000, // 5 seconds
-      gcTime: 5 * 60 * 1000, // 5 minutes
+      staleTime: 0, // 5 * 1000, // 5 seconds
+      gcTime: 0, //5 * 60 * 1000, // 5 minutes
       refetchOnMount: true,
       retry: 1,
     },
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Assignments/Assignment/index.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Assignments/Assignment/index.tsx
index e61f8107..37e08bd1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Assignments/Assignment/index.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Assignments/Assignment/index.tsx
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import Pill from "@/components/Pill";
 import "./styles.css";
 import { StudentWorkState } from "@/types/enums";
 import { removeUnderscores } from "@/utils/text";
-import { useAssignment, useStudentWorks, useAssignmentInviteLink, useAssignmentTemplate, useAssignmentMetrics } from "@/hooks/useAssignment";
+import { useAssignment, useStudentWorks, useAssignmentInviteLink, useAssignmentTemplate, useAssignmentMetrics, useAssignmentTotalCommits } from "@/hooks/useAssignment";
 import { ErrorToast } from "@/components/Toast";
 
 ChartJS.register(...registerables);
@@ -31,21 +31,19 @@ const Assignment: React.FC = () => {
   const base_url: string = import.meta.env.VITE_PUBLIC_FRONTEND_DOMAIN as string;
 
   const { data: assignment } = useAssignment(selectedClassroom?.id, Number(assignmentID));
-  const { data: studentWorks, isLoading: isLoadingWorks } = useStudentWorks(
+  const { data: studentWorks } = useStudentWorks(
     selectedClassroom?.id, 
     Number(assignmentID)
   );
   const { data: inviteLink = "", error: linkError } = useAssignmentInviteLink(selectedClassroom?.id, assignment?.id, base_url);
+
+  const { data: totalAssignmentCommits } = useAssignmentTotalCommits(selectedClassroom?.id, assignment?.id);
   const { data: assignmentTemplate, error: templateError } = useAssignmentTemplate(selectedClassroom?.id, assignment?.id);
   const { acceptanceMetrics, gradedMetrics, error: metricsError } = useAssignmentMetrics(selectedClassroom?.id, Number(assignmentID));
 
   const assignmentTemplateLink = assignmentTemplate ? `https://github.com/${assignmentTemplate.template_repo_owner}/${assignmentTemplate.template_repo_name}` : "";
-  const totalCommits = isLoadingWorks ? 0 : studentWorks?.reduce((total, work) => total + work.commit_amount, 0);
-  const firstCommitDate = isLoadingWorks ? null : studentWorks?.reduce((earliest, work) => {
-    if (!work.first_commit_date) return earliest;
-    if (!earliest) return new Date(work.first_commit_date);
-    return new Date(work.first_commit_date) < earliest ? new Date(work.first_commit_date) : earliest;
-  }, null as Date | null);
+  
+  
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (linkError || templateError || metricsError) {
@@ -104,11 +102,8 @@ const Assignment: React.FC = () => {
           <div className="Assignment__metrics">
             <h2>Metrics</h2>
             <MetricPanel>
-              <Metric title="First Commit Date">
-                {firstCommitDate ? formatDate(firstCommitDate) : "N/A"}
-              </Metric>
               <Metric title="Total Commits">
-                {totalCommits?.toString() ?? "N/A"}
+                {totalAssignmentCommits ? totalAssignmentCommits.toString() : 0}
               </Metric>
             </MetricPanel>
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Assignments/StudentSubmission/index.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/Assignments/StudentSubmission/index.tsx
index f71eeca3..c2f0f8fa 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Assignments/StudentSubmission/index.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Assignments/StudentSubmission/index.tsx
@@ -116,111 +116,129 @@ const StudentSubmission: React.FC = () => {
     }
   }, [selectedClassroom, submission]);
 
-  // useEffect for line chart 
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (commitsPerDay) {
-      const sortedDates = Array.from(commitsPerDay.keys()).sort((a, b) => a.valueOf() - b.valueOf())
-      // end dates at today or due date, whichever is sooner
-      if (submission) {
-        const today = new Date()
-        today.setUTCHours(0)
-        today.setUTCMinutes(0)
-        today.setUTCSeconds(0)
-        if (sortedDates.length === 0) {
-          setNoCommits(true)
-        } else if (sortedDates[sortedDates.length - 1].toDateString() !== (today.toDateString())) {
-          sortedDates.push(new Date())
-        }
-      }
 
-      const sortedCounts: number[] = (sortedDates.map((date) => commitsPerDay.get(date) ?? 0))
-      const sortedDatesStrings = sortedDates.map((date) => `${date.getMonth()+1}/${date.getDate()}`)
+  // retrieves commit data, fills in any days without commits with 0 commits on the day
+  // returns a list of dates and a cooresponding list of counts 
+  const prepLineData = () => {
+    function addDays(date: Date, days: number): Date {
+      const newDate = new Date(date);
+      newDate.setDate(newDate.getDate() + days);
+      return newDate;
+    }
 
-      //add in days with 0 commits
-      const sortedDatesStringsCopy = [...sortedDatesStrings]
-      let index = 0
-      for (let i = 0; i < sortedDatesStringsCopy.length - 1; i++) {
+    const dates = Array.from(commitsPerDay.keys());
+    if (submission) {
+      const today = new Date()
+      today.setUTCHours(0)
+      today.setUTCMinutes(0)
+      today.setUTCSeconds(0)
+
+      if (dates.length <= 1) {
+        setNoCommits(true)
+        return {}
+      } else if (dates[dates.length - 1].toDateString() !== (today.toDateString())) {
+        dates.push(today)
+      }
+    }
 
-        const month = Number(sortedDatesStringsCopy[i].split("/")[0])
-        const day = Number(sortedDatesStringsCopy[i].split("/")[1])
-        const followingDay = Number(sortedDatesStringsCopy[i + 1].split("/")[1])
+    const minDate = new Date(Math.min(...dates.map(date => date.getTime())));
+    const maxDate = new Date(Math.max(...dates.map(date => date.getTime())));
 
+    let currentDate = new Date(minDate);
+    while (currentDate <= maxDate) {
+      if (!commitsPerDay.has(currentDate)) {
+        commitsPerDay.set(currentDate, 0);
+      }
+      currentDate = addDays(currentDate, 1);
+    }
 
-        const difference = day - followingDay
+    const sortedEntries = Array.from(commitsPerDay.entries()).sort(
+      (a, b) => a[0].getTime() - b[0].getTime()
+    );
+    const sortedCommitsPerDay = new Map(sortedEntries);
 
-        const adjacent = (difference === -1)
-        const adjacentWrapped = ((difference === 30 || difference === 29 || difference === 27) && (followingDay === 1))
+    if (sortedEntries.keys.length > 0) {
+      setLoadingAllCommits(false)
+    }
 
-        if (!adjacent && !adjacentWrapped) {
-          for (let j = 1; j < Math.abs(difference); j++) {
-            
-            const nextDay = (new Date(sortedDates[i].getUTCFullYear(), month-1, day))
-            nextDay.setDate(nextDay.getDate()+j)
+    const sortedDates = Array.from(sortedCommitsPerDay.keys());
+    const sortedCounts = Array.from(sortedCommitsPerDay.values());
 
-            sortedDatesStrings.splice(index + j, 0, `${nextDay.getUTCMonth()+1}/${nextDay.getDate()}`)
-            sortedCounts.splice(index + j, 0, 0)
-          }
-          index += (Math.abs(difference))
+    const sortedDatesStrings = Array.from(sortedDates.map((a) => `${a.getUTCMonth() + 1}/${a.getUTCDate()}`))
+    if (sortedDatesStrings.length > 0) {
+      setLoadingAllCommits(false)
+    }
 
-        }
-      }
+    return { sortedDatesStrings, sortedCounts }
+  }
 
-      if (sortedDates.length > 0) {
-        setLoadingAllCommits(false)
-      }
+  // useEffect for line chart 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (commitsPerDay) {
 
-      const lineData = {
-        labels: sortedDatesStrings,
-        datasets: [
-          {
-            data: sortedCounts,
-            borderColor: 'rgba(13, 148, 136, 1)',
-            backgroundColor: 'rgba(75, 192, 192, 0.2)',
-            tension: 0.05,
-          },
-        ],
-      }
-      setLineData(lineData)
-
-      const lineOptions = {
-        responsive: true,
-        plugins: {
-          legend: {
-            display: false,
-          },
-          title: {
-            display: false,
-          },
-          datalabels: {
-            display: false,
-          },
-        },
-        scales: {
-          x: {
-            grid: {
-              display: false,
+      const lineInformation  = prepLineData()
+      const dates = lineInformation.sortedDatesStrings!
+      const counts = lineInformation.sortedCounts!
+
+      if (dates && counts) {
+        
+        if (dates.length > 0 && counts.length > 0) {
+          const lineData = {
+            labels: dates,
+            datasets: [
+              {
+                data: counts,
+                borderColor: 'rgba(13, 148, 136, 1)',
+                backgroundColor: 'rgba(75, 192, 192, 0.2)',
+                tension: 0.05,
+              },
+            ],
+          }
+          setLineData(lineData)
+
+          const lineOptions = {
+            responsive: true,
+            plugins: {
+              legend: {
+                display: false,
+              },
+              title: {
+                display: false,
+              },
+              datalabels: {
+                display: false,
+              },
             },
-          },
-          y: {
-            grid: {
-              display: false,
+            scales: {
+              x: {
+                grid: {
+                  display: false,
+                },
+              },
+              y: {
+                grid: {
+                  display: false,
+                },
+                ticks: {
+                  maxTicksLimit: 5,
+                  beginAtZero: true,
+                },
+              },
             },
-            ticks: {
-              maxTicksLimit: 5,
-              beginAtZero: true,
+            elements: {
+              point: {
+                radius: 1,
+              },
+              labels: {
+                display: false
+              }
             },
-          },
-        },
-        elements: {
-          point: {
-            radius: 1,
-          },
-          labels: {
-            display: false
           }
-        },
+
+          setLineOptions(lineOptions)
+
+        }
       }
-      setLineOptions(lineOptions)
     }
 
   }, [commitsPerDay])
@@ -276,7 +294,7 @@ const StudentSubmission: React.FC = () => {
           )}
         </MetricPanel>
 
-        <div>{}</div>
+        <div>{ }</div>
       </div>
     </div>
   );