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 #26-578 (09-8-26, 12:26 pm) - Subject - FanWords Contract
Name - David Covucci
Affiliation - FOIAball
Pursuant to Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 14 Conn. Gen. Stats.), I am requesting the following items from your school’s athletics department.
A copy of the most recent contract and/or invoice/payment for the following service.
FanWord, FanWord Assist, and/or FanWord Stories.
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 #26-577 (09-8-26, 12:26 pm) - Subject - AI Tools Spending
Name - David Covucci
Affiliation - FOIAball
Pursuant to Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 14 Conn. Gen. Stats.), I am requesting the following items from your school’s athletics department.
A copy of the most recently processed invoice or line-item expense filed to your university’s football team for the following services:
Any additional contracts or agreements you may have with those entities.
A copy of any policy your athletics department has published or distributed to employees regarding the use of generative AI.
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.
SmartProcure is submitting a public records request to the University of Connecticut Health Center for any and all purchasing records from 4/1/26 to current. The request is limited to readily available records without physically copying, scanning, or printing paper documents. Any editable electronic document is acceptable.
The specific information requested from your record-keeping system is:
1. Purchase order number. If purchase orders are not used a comparable substitute is acceptable, i.e., invoice, encumbrance, or check number
2. Purchase date
3. Line item details (Detailed description of the purchase)
4. Line item quantity
5. Line item price
6. Vendor ID number, name, address, contact person and their email address
FOI #26-575 (09-7-26, 3:49 am) - Subject - Security Camera Footage for MPR Room - North New Haven Key Return
Name - Student Student
Affiliation - Uconn Student
I am requesting any available security/surveillance camera footage from May 10, 2026, between 3:15 PM and 4:45 PM from the North New Haven residence hall at UConn Storrs.
I returned my hall key in the lounge area of North New Haven, which is known as the North Multipurpose Room, during the Spring 2026 move-out process. I was a resident of North New Haven, Room 120. I believe I returned the key closer to 4:00–4:45 PM, but I am requesting footage from 3:15–4:45 PM to ensure the relevant footage is included.
I am specifically requesting footage from any camera that captured the North Multipurpose Room and/or the area where residents were returning their keys during that time.
The reason why I am requesting this footage because Campus Housing assessed a $150 charge for a failure to return the key. I appealed the charge and was informed that I would need additional supporting documentation. Since they gave me no email or supporting documentation when I returned my key, I requested footage of the room where I returned my key. Campus Housing informed me that university security cameras are owned and monitored by UCPD.
If the footage cannot be released directly to me, please let me know whether the footage still exists and whether UCPD can review it or provide verification to Campus Housing that I returned my key. I would greatly appreciate any assistance in obtaining the documentation necessary to have this charge removed.
FOI #26-574 (09-4-26, 1:45 pm) - Subject - Public Records Request
Name - Redmond Redmond
Affiliation - The Data Branch
We request all records, including executed contracts, purchase orders, invoices, and solicitation/RFP documents for products or services purchased from ESS/ESI, Kokua Education, Scoot Education, Zed Educate, and BuildEd, covering the past three years to present.
Spreadsheet exports preferred; PDF, Word, or standard ERP/finance reports also work. This is a commercial research request, and we're happy to narrow or clarify the scope to ease fulfillment.
Pursuant to Connecticut's public records laws, I request a copy of the university’s agreement with FanWord or its parent company, as announced in this press release:
FOI #26-572 (09-4-26, 12:15 pm) - Subject - Ryan Coles Investigation
Name - Gianna Rivera
Affiliation - Former Student
Pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (C.G.S. § 1-200, et seq.):
I hereby request electronic copies of the following public records
1) The formal 26-page rebuttal statement or counter-report submitted by former Assistant Professor Ryan Coles to the University of Connecticut.
2) The final internal investigation report compiled by the UConn Office of University Compliance regarding Ryan Coles' travel expenses and outside business interests. Please provide these records in electronic format (such as PDF) to avoid copying fees. If any portions of these documents are redacted under statutory exemptions, please disclose all segregable, non-exempt portions and cite the specific legal exemption for any withheld text.
I am writing on behalf of SmartProcure to formally submit a Public Records Request.
We respectfully request electronic copies of records from January 1, 2022 to the present relating to the current and active contract between University of Connecticut and following Vendors.
Carahsoft Technology
If any such contracts exist, I would appreciate receiving the associated documentation that includes the following details:
• The names of the contracting parties..
• A description of the nature and purpose of the contract..
• The contract’s start and end dates..
• The total value or cost of the contract..
• Any amendments, extensions, or renewals related to the contract..
If the requested records are available in digital format, I would appreciate receiving them electronically. You may either email the documents directly or upload them securely using the link below:
http://cargo.govspend.com/agency-upload?id=5c3cd26d0867cc0031e2b25e-8c15069be7c943799ad7e7b42d3593c7
FOI #26-570 - Subject - Public Records Request — Infringement Reports Contract
Name - Daniel Brooks
Affiliation -
I request an electronic copy of the complete contract between the University of Connecticut and Infringement Reports that was in effect during 2026.
Please include the executed contract and all exhibits, schedules, statements of work, amendments, renewals, extensions, pricing provisions, and other documents incorporated into or modifying the agreement.
If Infringement Reports provides services for the University through another contracting entity, please provide any contract or agreement in the University’s possession governing or authorizing those services.
If any portion is withheld or redacted, please identify the specific legal basis. If the University has no responsive contract or agreement, please confirm that.
FOI #26-569 (-3-26, 10:11 pm) - Subject - Athletics - game contracts
Name - Paul Doyle
Affiliation - Hearst Connecticut Media Group
We are requesting game contracts for the following men’s basketball 2026-27 preseason and regular season games:
Oct. 13 vs. Syracuse
Oct. 20 at Michigan State
Oct. 27 vs. Purdue
Nov. 2 vs. Gardner-Webb
Nov. 6 vs. Michigan
Nov. 9 vs. Wagner
Nov. 13 vs. Ohio State
Nov. 18 at Arizona
Nov. 25 vs. Duke
Nov. 30 vs. Rider
Dec. 4 vs. Illinois
Dec. 8 vs. Mississippi Valley State
Dec. 12 vs. Kansas
Dec. 15 vs. Delaware State
Dec. 20 vs. Virginia