Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
FOI #26-195 (03-24-26, 3:18 am) - Subject - Public Record Request
Name - Sarah Harmon
Affiliation - SmartProcure
SmartProcure respectfully requests electronic copies of any current or active contracts, agreements, and related procurement documents maintained by University of Connecticut. Specifically, I am seeking any records related to contracts, agreements, procurements, or solicitations involving transportation vendors and/or platforms, including but not limited to:
For each relevant contract or agreement, I would appreciate if you could include the following details:
* Names of the contracting parties
* A brief description of the nature and purpose of the contract (including scope of services or products)
* Contract start and end dates
* Total value, cost, or pricing structure
* Any amendments, extensions, renewals, or addenda
If possible, I kindly request that these records be provided in electronic format (email attachments or a secure download link preferred).
If any part of this request requires clarification or narrowing, I would be happy to adjust accordingly. Additionally, please let me know in advance if there are any fees associated with fulfilling this request, along with an estimate of those costs. Thank you very much for your time and assistance. I appreciate your help and look forward to your response.
FOI #26-194 (03-24-26, 12:54 am) - Subject - Public Records Request for Purchases Orders
Name - Maya Kumari
Affiliation - Nation Analytics
I am requesting data for all purchase orders from Jan 27, 2026, to the present.
Fields requested: identifier, date, description, quantity, amount, and vendor name.
Please share the data in Excel or CSV format.
This is not a burdensome request—I’m only seeking existing records. If denied, please state the reason for denial.
FOI #26-193 (03-23-26, 3:24 pm) - Subject - Dialysis Clinic,
Name - Sarah Harmon
Affiliation - SmartProcure
Electronic copies of the current and active contract and any exhibits/attachments; as well as any amendments/renewals, between Dialysis Clinic, as the vendor, and John Dempsey Hospital as well as UConn
I am submitting a public information request pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-200 et seq.).
I am requesting grade distribution data for all undergraduate and graduate courses. Specifically, I am requesting the number of students receiving each letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) broken down by:
- Department and course number
- Instructor name
- Semester and academic year
I am requesting data for the most recent 5 academic years available (2020-2025 preferred).
FOI #26-191 (03-23-26, 1:35 pm) - Subject - NIL Go Metrics
Name - David Covucci
Affiliation - FOIAball
Pursuant to Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 14 Conn. Gen. Stats.), I am requesting the following documents from your university’s athletics department.
Any data set or document compiled for the purposes of providing university athletics metrics to the College Sports Commission or the NIL Go platform.
Any document in possession of your athletics department that details any request for university metrics from the College Sports Commission or the NIL Go platform.
Please note, these metrics could encompass social media following, television viewership, program participation rates, depth charts, etc.
For this request, the most recent version of any document that is responsive is acceptable. However, if you need a time frame to search, I am requesting documents from 6/1/2025 to 2/28/2026.
Please note that Connecticut law requires public agencies to respond to requests within four days of receiving them by either processing or denying the request, or providing written notice requesting an extension.
As I am an independent journalist engaged in legitimate newsgathering, I am requesting a fee waiver of any associated costs with this request. In lieu of a fee waiver, I am requesting a detailed invoice of any potential costs, if any, associated with this request.
FOI #26-189 (03-21-26, 9:55 pm) - Subject - Public Records Request: University of Connecticut Fire Department Purchase Orders (FR:13642)
Name - Oshea Smith
Affiliation -
Pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-200 et seq.), I am requesting an any document that details payments to vendors issued by University of Connecticut Fire Department from 1/1/2022 through February, 28 2026.
This document/report may also be referred to as an accounts payable summary, check summary, check register, check warrants, vendor payment summaries, expenditure/disbursement reports or vendor analysis report. Any spreadsheet or report that lists vendor names, brief descriptions of purchases, and total amounts would be fully responsive to this request.
If available, please include:
-Vendor name
-Description of purchase or payment
-Total price or amount paid
If vendor names are coded, please include the code key if it's easily available. We're happy to accept whatever form this data is already maintained in — raw exports or standard reports (Excel, CSV, or PDF) are perfectly fine.
If another department is better suited to handle this request, I'd appreciate it if you could forward it to them or share their contact information.
If any part of this request is withheld, please provide the specific statutory exemption and release all non-exempt portions.
To ensure prompt follow-up, please send any correspondence regarding clarifications, extensions, online portal access, and response letters to records@sunlightaccess.com and reference: FR:13642
Oshea Smith
215 N Payne St STE 33025
Alexandria, VA 22314
www.sunlightaccess.com
For the period from February 10, 2025 to March 30, 2025, inclusive of those dates:
-- All email messages received by mohamad.alkadry@Uconn.edu from jfountai@umass.edu
-- All email messages sent by mohamad.alkadry@Uconn.edu to jfountai@umass.edu