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Information Technology Services

Yavapai College Cookie Usage

Cookies are small pieces of data that may be stored on your computer, smartphone, or other network-connected device when you visit a website. They help websites remember visitors, maintain settings, support web applications, and understand how site content is used.

A cookie identifies you as a previous visitor to a website. Cookies are most often used to personalize settings, provide custom user preferences, maintain sessions, and help web applications function efficiently.

How websites use cookies

In addition to storing preferences and personalized settings, cookies are used by websites to determine which sections and files are visited most often. Websites that require a username and password may also use cookies to remember visitors during their session.

How cookies are separated

Each website deploys its own cookies. A cookie from one website cannot be read by another unrelated website.

Per-session cookies

Per-session cookies are almost always anonymous and only exist on your device until you close your web browser. They are most often used to increase the performance of web-based applications and reduce the amount of data that must be transferred between your computer and the web server.

These cookies typically store a session ID or another unique identifier that can be used while you are browsing a specific website.

Persistent cookies

Persistent cookies remain after you close your web browser. They are often used to store preferences when you visit a website and may sometimes be used to store usernames or passwords, although that is uncommon because it can create a security risk.

Because persistent cookies remain after a browser session ends, they can represent a privacy consideration.

Yavapai College has multiple websites and web-based applications. Each site or application may have different cookie requirements. Reasonable effort will be made to highlight specific policies and requirements where they apply.

When cookies are required

Cookies are required for authenticated access to the YC website and YC web-based applications. Cookies are generally not required to simply browse YC websites, although they may be used in the operation of certain web applications found on YC websites, even when unauthenticated.

While the main YC website and supported web applications do not require cookies unless you are logged in, you may be prompted that the site is trying to place a cookie on your local device.

Common YC cookie uses

  • Maintain state information during a website visit.
  • Support authenticated access to YC applications.
  • Reduce unnecessary bandwidth between your device and YC web servers.
  • Track website usage statistics to improve content and navigation.

To better serve students, faculty, staff, and the community, YC uses persistent cookies to track usage statistics on its websites. This helps the College highlight important content and update or remove old or unused content.

YC asks that users allow this cookie to be stored on their device. It does not contain personally identifiable information and helps the College improve its websites and services.