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 #24-182 (04-22-24, 10:55 am) - Subject - Bamboo Health Rising Risk contract and policies
Name - Todd Feathers
Affiliation -
Pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
1) UConn Health's contract and statement of work with Bamboo Health regarding the company's Rising Risk product. The existence of this contract has been publicly reported here: https://bamboohealth.com/uconnhealth-rising-risk-video/
2) UConn Health policies, user manuals, or comparable guidelines describing how and when UConn Health employees should use the Rising Risk product.
If you have any questions about this request, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I ask that all fees be waived as I am a journalist and intend to use the requested records to publish articles in the public interest. In the event you choose to impose fees, I request a detailed breakdown of the fees, including the hourly wage of each employee involved and an explanation justifying the employee hours required to fulfill the request.
Should you choose to reject this request or redact portions of it, I ask that you provide a detailed breakdown of the statutory exemptions and associated case law underlying your decision to withhold each/any portions from public review.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 4 business days, as the statute requires.
FOI #24-181 (04-21-24, 9:38 pm) - Subject - UConn Athletics, Men's Basketball Game Contracts
Name - Rocco Miller
Affiliation - Bracketeer.Org
All available Game and Event contracts for UConn Men's Basketball that apply to the 2024-25 season and for future seasons. If you only have a few executed thus far, that is okay - we would like to review the agreements you have available today to assist in a Division 1 national project.
FOI #24-180 (04-21-24, 12:51 pm) - Subject - Seeking records related to financial impacts of athletic conference membership, specifically any payments to Hockey East or from Hockey East
Name - Sean Moriarty
Affiliation - N/A
I am researching the finances behind membership in different college sports conferences, and would like any sort of document outlining the payments to or from UConn involving Hockey East, or the Big East. Things that may be helpful are contracts, receipts (if applicable), or budget information where incoming/outgoing conference-related money is mentioned.
This information could possibly be in a conference membership agreement with financial information or a television/broadcasting rights agreement.
FOI #24-179 (04-19-24, 1:29 pm) - Subject - College of Engineering Dean's Search
Name - Jeffrey McCutcheon
Affiliation - University of Connecticut
I would like to see all of the staff and faculty feedback on all of the dean candidates for the College of Engineering search. This feedback was collected electronically (anonymously) and should be easily available.
FOI #24-176 (04-17-24, 6:09 pm) - Subject - Police Report at Starbucks
Name - Student Student
Affiliation - University of Connecticut
I am in a journalism class and I was assigned to write a story. I chose to ask an employee at the Starbucks on front street at the Barnes and Nobles bookstore. She told me a police report was filed and they were banned from the area. I was wondering if I could get that report, so that I can use it in my story for class. Any report(s) that were made from this Starbucks involving theft will work. The report will not be shared with anyone and it's only purpose is for my story.
FOI #24-175 (04-17-24, 9:33 am) - Subject - Toscano Family Ice Forum
Name - Student Student
Affiliation -
Please provide all contracts related to the construction and fundraising for Toscano Family Ice Forum.
All financial statements related to the payment and sources of money for the construction of the ice rink.
All communications, including emails, between the UConn foundation and the Board of Trustees, especially Dan Toscano, on the construction, naming, and payment for the building.
The construction vendor is Turner Construction Company.
I am requesting the contracts of University of Connecticut’s men's head basketball coach, Dan Hurley. I am also requesting the contract of the women's head coach, Geno Auriemma.This information can be provided to me: McKenzie Swinson me24swin@siena.edu.
FOI #24-173 (04-16-24, 9:06 am) - Subject - Dan Hurley and Jim Mora Contracts
Name - Drew Vandemore
Affiliation - Alumnus
Dear David Benedict and UConn Athletics,
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
I request that a copy of the following documents [or documents containing the following information] be provided to me: finalized employment contracts between head football coach Jim Mora, head basketball coach Dan Hurley and the University of Connecticut. The date range for this request is limited to amendments/contracts finalized on or between January 2, 2020 and April 16, 2024.
In order to help to determine my status to assess fees, you should know that I am an individual seeking information for personal use and not for a commercial use.
I request a waiver of all fees for this request. Disclosure of the requested information to me is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the university and is not primarily in my commercial interest.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Drew Vandemore
401 S Graham St Apt 1802
Charlotte, NC 28202