diff --git a/jwql/utils/constants.py b/jwql/utils/constants.py
index 07d0d72fd..ad33495b5 100644
--- a/jwql/utils/constants.py
+++ b/jwql/utils/constants.py
@@ -1042,6 +1042,7 @@ class QueryConfigKeys:
 MAX_LEN_GRATING = 40
 MAX_LEN_INSTRUMENT = 7
 MAX_LEN_MNEMONIC = 40
+MAX_LEN_MONITOR = 100
 MAX_LEN_NGROUPS = 10
 MAX_LEN_NINTS = 10
 MAX_LEN_OBS = 3
diff --git a/jwql/utils/monitor_utils.py b/jwql/utils/monitor_utils.py
index 8eb4c8a16..6847026e5 100644
--- a/jwql/utils/monitor_utils.py
+++ b/jwql/utils/monitor_utils.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 import numpy as np
 from django import setup
 
-from jwql.database.database_interface import Monitor, engine
 from jwql.utils.constants import ASIC_TEMPLATES, JWST_DATAPRODUCTS, MAST_QUERY_LIMIT
 from jwql.utils.constants import ON_GITHUB_ACTIONS, ON_READTHEDOCS
 from jwql.utils.logging_functions import configure_logging, get_log_status
@@ -41,6 +40,7 @@
     os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "jwql.website.jwql_proj.settings")
     setup()
     from jwql.website.apps.jwql.models import RootFileInfo
+    from jwql.website.apps.jwql.monitor_models.common import Monitor
 
 
 def exclude_asic_tuning(mast_results):
@@ -285,5 +285,5 @@ def update_monitor_table(module, start_time, log_file):
     new_entry['status'] = get_log_status(log_file)
     new_entry['log_file'] = os.path.basename(log_file)
 
-    with engine.begin() as connection:
-        connection.execute(Monitor.__table__.insert(), new_entry)
+    entry = Monitor(**new_entry)
+    entry.save()
diff --git a/jwql/website/apps/jwql/migrations/0030_alter_monitor_log_file_alter_monitor_monitor_name.py b/jwql/website/apps/jwql/migrations/0030_alter_monitor_log_file_alter_monitor_monitor_name.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..11fa0d752
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jwql/website/apps/jwql/migrations/0030_alter_monitor_log_file_alter_monitor_monitor_name.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# Generated by Django 5.1.4 on 2025-02-05 15:31
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('jwql', '0029_wispfinderb4queryhistory'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='monitor',
+            name='log_file',
+            field=models.CharField(default='empty', help_text='Log file name', max_length=1000),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='monitor',
+            name='monitor_name',
+            field=models.CharField(default='empty', help_text='Monitor name', max_length=100),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/jwql/website/apps/jwql/monitor_models/common.py b/jwql/website/apps/jwql/monitor_models/common.py
index ee6da326e..bc66fd1b3 100644
--- a/jwql/website/apps/jwql/monitor_models/common.py
+++ b/jwql/website/apps/jwql/monitor_models/common.py
@@ -182,15 +182,25 @@ class Meta:
     DEFAULT_MODEL_CHARFIELD,
     MAX_LEN_FILTER,
     MAX_LEN_INSTRUMENT,
+    MAX_LEN_MONITOR,
+    MAX_LEN_PATH
 )
 
 
 class Monitor(models.Model):
-    monitor_name = models.CharField()
+    monitor_name = models.CharField(
+        max_length=MAX_LEN_MONITOR,
+        help_text="Monitor name",
+        default=DEFAULT_MODEL_CHARFIELD
+    )
     start_time = models.DateTimeField()
     end_time = models.DateTimeField(blank=True, null=True)
     status = models.TextField(blank=True, null=True)
-    log_file = models.CharField()
+    log_file = models.CharField(
+        max_length=MAX_LEN_PATH,
+        help_text="Log file name",
+        default=DEFAULT_MODEL_CHARFIELD
+    )
 
     class Meta:
         managed = True