University of Illinois System

University of Illinois System Cookie Policy 

1.  Scope

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, by and through its component units, including the System Offices, the Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield universities, and all other teaching, research, and service facilities, wherever located, (collectively known as “University of Illinois System”, “System”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to respecting and protecting the privacy rights of all natural persons. This Cookie Policy applies to the University of Illinois System and supplements the University of Illinois System Privacy Statement, as well as the University of Illinois Supplemental Privacy Notice, which addresses the privacy rights of persons in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, and the University of Illinois Supplemental Privacy Notice - PIPL, which addresses the privacy rights of persons in Mainland China.

2.  Purpose

This Cookie Policy describes the System’s use of Cookies and related data sharing and tracking technologies, including pixel tags, site tags, and IDs (collectively referred to as “Cookies”). The terms and conditions below provide you with information about Cookies the System may employ and the potential uses of those Cookies when you access and use System websites. 

3.  What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files a website saves on your computer or other device (e.g., mobile phone) when you visit the website. They are used to collect data and may be used to retain information, including but not limited to personally identifiable information (PII), website preferences, and tracking information about webpages you have visited. For example, when you revisit a website, you might see a “Welcome Back” message. To make that happen, a Cookie was probably stored on your computer the first time you visited the website. When you returned, the Cookie was read again. If you choose, you can refuse to accept Cookies, disable Cookies, and remove Cookies from your hard drive. Information on how to manage Cookies appears in Section 5.

Cookies can be classified in different ways.

  • Cookies we save on your computer or device when you visit our websites are called first-party Cookies. The data collected might be about you, your device, your IP address, your geographic location, your preferences, or your login information. This data is mostly used to make the website work as expected so that, for example, you don’t have to keep re-entering your credentials whenever you come back to the site. 
  • Cookies third parties (e.g., Meta/Facebook, Google, OneTrust, YouTube) save on your computer or device when you visit our websites are called third-party Cookies. We use third-party Cookies for analyzing website traffic and for our advertising and marketing efforts.
  • Permanent Cookies are Cookies that remain on your computer or device after the browser application has been closed.
  • Temporary Cookies are Cookies that do not remain on your computer or device after the browser application has been closed.
  • Transactional Cookies are Cookies that facilitate business transactions. Transactional cookies may be temporary or permanent.  

4.  Illinois State Agency Website Act

The Illinois State Agency Website Act prohibits the use of permanent Cookies or any other invasive tracking programs that monitor and track website viewing habits on State agency websites. State agency websites may, however, use transactional Cookies. 

State agency websites are exempt from the permanent Cookie prohibition if they meet the following criteria: 

(i) The use of permanent Cookies adds value to the user otherwise not available;
(ii) The permanent Cookies are not used to monitor and track website viewing habits unless all types of information collected, and the State's use of that information, adds user value and is disclosed through a comprehensive online privacy statement.

Consistent with the Illinois State Agency Website Act, System units using Cookies on their websites employ the System Cookie banner with a link to this policy.

5.  How to Manage Cookies

You can control the use of most Cookies on websites by using the settings on your web browser regardless of the type of device or application (e.g., computer, mobile device, mobile health application). If you do that, you may have to manually adjust your website preferences every time you visit a site and some features may not work as intended, limiting website access and functionality. Here are links to instructions for changing the Cookie settings for common Internet browsers. 

If your browser is not listed above, consult your browser’s guidance for instructions on how to manage Cookies. Also, for information about managing Google Analytics (explained in Section 7 under Performance Cookies), consult Google’s browser add-on webpage.

You can find more information on how to control and delete Cookies by visiting the Federal Trade Commission’s Online Tracking website, the Digital Advertising Alliance's website YourAdChoices, and the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance's website YourOnlineChoices.

6.  Your Consent to Our Use of Cookies

You are responsible for setting your privacy preferences on your browser and/or in your device settings. Accordingly, when you visit our websites with Cookies enabled on your browser and/or in your device settings, you consent to the storing of first- and third-party Cookies and related sharing and tracking technologies on your device as described in this Cookie Policy. If you do not want to consent to our use of Cookies, you must disable Cookies on your web browser to the extent possible. Note that it may not be possible to disable all Cookies on your web browser and that, to the extent Cookies cannot be disabled on your web browser, you consent to our use of Cookies when you visit our websites.

7.  Cookie Types

We have divided the Cookies we use into the following categories: Strictly Necessary, Performance, Functional, and Targeting.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookies are first-party Cookies that are necessary for the website to function. They can be either permanent or temporary and are usually only set in response to actions made directly by you that amount to a request for services, such as logging in or filling in forms. For example, we use Strictly Necessary Cookies to handle user registration and login. Some sites require the use of Strictly Necessary Cookies to access the site, such as System websites requiring System-credentialed authentication. If you set your browser to block or delete Cookies, you may not be able to access our site or some parts of the site will not work.

Performance Cookies

Performance Cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance and effectiveness of System websites. Performance Cookies also help us understand which webpages are the most and least popular, see how visitors move around the site, and determine whether webpage content is relevant to user interests. Performance Cookies may be first-party or third-party and permanent or temporary.

Some Performance Cookies (e.g., Google Analytics) are "analytics trackers", which are pieces of code used to monitor and collect information concerning a user’s interactions with a website, application, or other digital asset. This information can include website page views, clicks, web form entries, and other actions. Analytics trackers may also capture details about the user’s device, the website the user is navigating from, and identifiable data elements such as: Cookie identifiers, geo-location (with varying degrees of specificity), email address, phone number, first and last name, etc. Analytics trackers help us understand more about how our websites are used and where visitors come from.

Analytics trackers may track different things. Accordingly, the University of Illinois System may use a range of analytics trackers to assess website performance, including but not limited to the following:

Core Analytics Trackers Social Media Trackers Screen Recording/Heat Mapping A/B Testing Other Specialized Trackers
  • Google Analytics
  • Adobe Analytics
  • The Meta Pixel
  • The SnapChat Pixel
  • The Tik Tok Pixel
  • The Pinterest Tracker
  • X Tracker
  • Hotjar
  • Fullstory
  • Mouseflow
  • Crazy Egg
  • Optimizely
  • AB TASTY
  • VWO
  • Adobe Analytics for Streaming
  • Data.ai (F.K.A. App Anne)
  • Mobile Analytics

The System does not take responsibility for the collection, use, and management of data by any third-party software tool provider, including the collection of data associated with individual user IDs or profiles, unless required to do so by applicable law. If you set your browser to block or delete Cookies, some site services and functionalities may not work.

Functional Cookies

Functional Cookies enhance the performance and functionality of our websites but are non-essential to their use. These permanent Cookies allow our website to remember information from your previous visits, such as details you submitted before or your previously stated preferences. These Cookies may also be used to provide services you request, such as newsletters or publications. They may be first- or third-party Cookies that enable services we have added to our webpages. If you set your browser to block or delete Cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.

Targeting Cookies

Targeting Cookies are used to deliver content tailored to your interests and may be temporary or permanent. They may also be first-party or third-party Cookies. Targeting Cookies are based on uniquely identifying your browser and device; they do not store information such as your name. We may use targeting Cookies prepared by us, our third-party contractors, or our advertising partners to provide you with personalized display advertising and promotional material about the University of Illinois System and its programs. We may also allow third parties to place on your device Cookies that collect and use anonymous information about your visits to, and interactions with, our websites to personalize advertisements and promotional materials for System goods and services. Targeting Cookies may be used by our third-party contractors or our advertising partners to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other sites. We may share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you have provided to them or that they have collected from your use of their services. If you set your browser to block or delete Cookies, you will still see advertisements, but they will be less targeted to your interests. 

In addition to these types of Cookies, a session replay code may be enabled to allow website operators to record and replay user interactions with our websites, including clicks, scrolls, hovers, web pages visited, and data submissions. This information is often used for marketing purposes and other system related purposes.

8.  Using Pixel Tags to Provide Personalized System Advertising and Promotional Materials

We may also use "pixel tags" (e.g., Meta Pixel) on our websites and in our emails. Pixel tags, also known as "web beacons" or "clear gifs", are tiny graphic images. Pixel tags help us analyze our users’ online behavior and measure the effectiveness of our websites and our advertising. We work with service providers that help us track, collect, and analyze this information. Pixel tags on our sites may be used to collect information about your visit to our websites, including the pages you view on our websites, the features you use, the links you click, and other actions you take in connection with our websites. This information may include your computer's Internet protocol (IP) address, your browser type, your operating system, date and time information, and other technical information about your computer. We may also track certain information about the identity of the website you visited immediately before coming to our website.

We may combine the information we collect through cookies and pixel tags with other information we have collected from and about you through other platforms and/or devices. This is called "Advanced Matching". This information may be used to your benefit in ways not otherwise available by improving our websites, personalizing your online experience, and tailoring our communications with you, as well as to determine the effectiveness of our advertising and promotional materials, and for other internal business purposes.

Although we discuss pixel tags separately in this section, because they are a related sharing and tracking technology, they are collectively referred to as Cookies in this Cookie Policy. 

9.  Who do I contact for more information regarding the System’s use of Cookies? 

If you have any questions about anything contained in this Cookie Policy, please email the Privacy Office for your university:

10.  Updates to Our Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Any changes will become effective upon posting of the revised Cookie Policy.

Issued: 10/28/20
Effective: 10/28/2020
Last revised: 11/02/2023