diff --git a/models/Reservation.js b/models/Reservation.js
index 90fbce0..b93d56f 100644
--- a/models/Reservation.js
+++ b/models/Reservation.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ const reservationSchema = new mongoose.Schema({
     },
     status: {
         type: String,
-        enum: ['PENDING', 'APPROVED', 'REJECTED', 'RETURNED', 'ARCHIVED'],
+        enum: ['PENDING', 'APPROVED', 'REJECTED', 'RETURN_PENDING', 'RETURNED', 'ARCHIVED'],
         default: 'PENDING'
     },
     reservedDate: {
diff --git a/public/admin-reservations.html b/public/admin-reservations.html
index 80187e3..b58274f 100644
--- a/public/admin-reservations.html
+++ b/public/admin-reservations.html
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
                             <option value="PENDING">Pending</option>
                             <option value="APPROVED">Approved</option>
                             <option value="REJECTED">Rejected</option>
+                            <option value="RETURN_PENDING">Return Pending</option>
                             <option value="RETURNED">Returned</option>
                         </select>
                     </div>
diff --git a/public/css/style.css b/public/css/style.css
index d1d4e0c..0ab4b84 100644
--- a/public/css/style.css
+++ b/public/css/style.css
@@ -299,6 +299,12 @@ body {
     border: 1px solid var(--vista-grey);
 }
 
+.reservation-return_pending {
+    background-color: #ffc107 !important;
+    color: var(--vista-blue) !important;
+    border: 1px solid var(--vista-peach);
+}
+
 .reservation-returned {
     background-color: var(--vista-peach) !important;
     color: var(--vista-white) !important;
diff --git a/public/js/admin-reservations.js b/public/js/admin-reservations.js
index 7cde90f..16c79f6 100644
--- a/public/js/admin-reservations.js
+++ b/public/js/admin-reservations.js
@@ -75,10 +75,15 @@ function filterAndDisplayReservations() {
                         <button class="btn btn-warning" onclick="updateReservation('${reservation._id}', 'REJECTED')" title="Reject">
                             <i class="bi bi-x-lg"></i><span class="btn-text"> Reject</span>
                         </button>
-                    ` : reservation.status === 'APPROVED' ? `
-                        <button class="btn btn-info" onclick="updateReservation('${reservation._id}', 'RETURNED')" title="Mark as Returned">
-                            <i class="bi bi-arrow-return-left"></i><span class="btn-text"> Return</span>
+                    ` : reservation.status === 'RETURN_PENDING' ? `
+                        <button class="btn btn-success" onclick="updateReservation('${reservation._id}', 'RETURNED')" title="Approve Return">
+                            <i class="bi bi-check-lg"></i><span class="btn-text"> Approve Return</span>
                         </button>
+                        <button class="btn btn-warning" onclick="updateReservation('${reservation._id}', 'APPROVED')" title="Reject Return">
+                            <i class="bi bi-x-lg"></i><span class="btn-text"> Reject Return</span>
+                        </button>
+                    ` : reservation.status === 'APPROVED' ? `
+                        <span class="text-info"><i class="bi bi-check-circle"></i><span class="btn-text"> Item Loaned</span></span>
                     ` : reservation.status === 'RETURNED' ? `
                         <button class="btn btn-secondary" onclick="archiveReservation('${reservation._id}')" title="Archive Reservation">
                             <i class="bi bi-archive"></i><span class="btn-text"> Archive</span>
diff --git a/public/js/student-reservations.js b/public/js/student-reservations.js
index 2528aea..eac0c1b 100644
--- a/public/js/student-reservations.js
+++ b/public/js/student-reservations.js
@@ -87,11 +87,13 @@ function filterAndDisplayReservations() {
                         <i class="bi bi-x-circle"></i> Cancel
                     </button>
                 ` : reservation.status === 'APPROVED' ? `
-                    <button class="btn btn-sm btn-info" onclick="returnReservation('${reservation._id}')" title="Return Item">
-                        <i class="bi bi-arrow-return-left"></i> Return
+                    <button class="btn btn-sm btn-info" onclick="returnReservation('${reservation._id}')" title="Request Return">
+                        <i class="bi bi-arrow-return-left"></i> Request Return
                     </button>
                 ` : reservation.status === 'REJECTED' ? `
                     <span class="text-muted"><i class="bi bi-x-circle"></i> Rejected</span>
+                ` : reservation.status === 'RETURN_PENDING' ? `
+                    <span class="text-warning"><i class="bi bi-clock"></i> Return Pending Approval</span>
                 ` : reservation.status === 'RETURNED' ? `
                     <span class="text-success"><i class="bi bi-check-circle"></i> Returned</span>
                 ` : ''}
@@ -126,7 +128,7 @@ async function deleteReservation(reservationId) {
 
 // Return reservation (mark as returned)
 async function returnReservation(reservationId) {
-    if (!confirm('Are you sure you want to return this item?')) return;
+    if (!confirm('Are you sure you want to request return for this item? An admin will need to approve the return.')) return;
 
     try {
         const response = await fetch(`/api/reservations/${reservationId}`, {
@@ -135,29 +137,29 @@ async function returnReservation(reservationId) {
                 'Content-Type': 'application/json',
                 'Authorization': `Bearer ${localStorage.getItem('token')}`
             },
-            body: JSON.stringify({ status: 'RETURNED' })
+            body: JSON.stringify({ status: 'RETURN_PENDING' })
         });
 
         if (response.ok) {
-            // Successfully returned, reload reservations
+            // Successfully requested return, reload reservations
             await loadReservations();
             // Show success message
             const alert = document.createElement('div');
             alert.className = 'alert alert-success alert-dismissible fade show';
             alert.innerHTML = `
-                Item returned successfully!
+                Return requested successfully! An admin will review your request.
                 <button type="button" class="btn-close" data-bs-dismiss="alert"></button>
             `;
             const container = document.querySelector('.container');
             container.prepend(alert);
-            setTimeout(() => alert.remove(), 3000);
+            setTimeout(() => alert.remove(), 5000);
         } else {
             const error = await response.json();
-            throw new Error(error.message || 'Failed to return item');
+            throw new Error(error.message || 'Failed to request return');
         }
     } catch (error) {
-        console.error('Error returning item:', error);
-        alert(`Failed to return item: ${error.message}`);
+        console.error('Error requesting return:', error);
+        alert(`Failed to request return: ${error.message}`);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/public/student-reservations.html b/public/student-reservations.html
index d3ccd9a..a8ac5f4 100644
--- a/public/student-reservations.html
+++ b/public/student-reservations.html
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
                             <option value="PENDING">Pending</option>
                             <option value="APPROVED">Approved</option>
                             <option value="REJECTED">Rejected</option>
+                            <option value="RETURN_PENDING">Return Pending</option>
                             <option value="RETURNED">Returned</option>
                         </select>
                     </div>
diff --git a/routes/reservations.js b/routes/reservations.js
index 6a3aef7..7452220 100644
--- a/routes/reservations.js
+++ b/routes/reservations.js
@@ -108,18 +108,18 @@ router.patch('/:id', auth, async (req, res) => {
         // Check authorization
         const isAdmin = req.user.role === 'admin';
         const isOwner = reservation.userId._id.toString() === req.user._id.toString();
-        const isReturning = req.body.status === 'RETURNED';
+        const isReturning = req.body.status === 'RETURN_PENDING';
 
         if (!isAdmin && (!isOwner || !isReturning)) {
             return res.status(403).json({ 
-                message: 'Not authorized. Students can only return their own items.' 
+                message: 'Not authorized. Students can only request return of their own items.' 
             });
         }
 
         // Additional validation for students
         if (!isAdmin && isReturning && reservation.status !== 'APPROVED') {
             return res.status(400).json({ 
-                message: 'Can only return approved items' 
+                message: 'Can only request return for approved items' 
             });
         }
 
@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@ router.patch('/:id', auth, async (req, res) => {
         if (oldStatus === 'PENDING' && newStatus === 'REJECTED') {
             item.reserved = Math.max(0, item.reserved - (reservation.quantity || 1));
             await item.save();
-        } else if (oldStatus === 'APPROVED' && newStatus === 'RETURNED') {
+        } else if (oldStatus === 'RETURN_PENDING' && newStatus === 'RETURNED') {
+            // Admin approved the return
             item.reserved = Math.max(0, item.reserved - (reservation.quantity || 1));
             await item.save();
         }