University Cookies
What are Cookies?
A cookie is a small text-based file placed on your device after you visit a website. We use different types of cookies to:
- Help us learn more about how people use our websites, so we can make our sites more useful
- Deliver content that is meaningful to you while you are on our website
- Deliver advertising about Ohio State to you after you leave our website
- Discover if the links provided in our emails are useful to you
- Transfer information you’ve selected from one page to another page you visit on our site
- Operate the functionality of our website as planned
- Conduct other similar or related activities
Types of cookies
- First party cookies: These are cookies that Ohio State sets when you visit our website. We use these to make your experience on our website better and to ensure our website functions as expected. Only Ohio State can access this data.
- Third party cookies: These are cookies from third parties that we place on our website. We use these to deliver targeted ads to individuals based on their previous interactions (Meta interactions or web visit) and use pixels to track these web visits for ad optimization; including measuring our advertising effectiveness, and improving advertising we may deliver to you after you leave our site and support your experience on our site. The third parties do have access to this data, often the pages you visited on our website and your location.
- Session Cookies: A session cookie is temporarily stored in your browser on your computer, phone or other device. It is deleted after you leave the website or when you close the browser.
- Persistent Cookies: A persistent cookie is stored in your browser on your computer, phone or other device. It is active until you delete it or it expires.
- Strictly necessary cookies: These cookies are necessary for our website and services to work as you’d expect.
- Performance cookies: We use these to ensure our site is working and fix errors. We also use these to try new ideas.
- Functional cookies: These help us customize your site experience using your previous behavior and choices as our guide.
- Targeting or Advertising cookies: We place advertising cookies on our site on behalf of third parties we work with. These send information about your behavior on our site to advertisers so we can provide Ohio State ads to you on other websites. Some third parties may pair this with your behaviors outside of the Ohio State website to further personalize the ads you receive. These are third party, persistent cookies. If you’ve already deployed an ad blocker on your browser, you will not receive these cookies.
Examples
Example of a first party, session cookie that is functional
You come to our site because you want to make a donation. You find an interesting fund and click a button to donate to that fund. When you go to the form to enter your information, the form contains the fund information you selected. A cookie allows us to take information from one page to the next so you don’t have to re-enter it.
Example of a third party, persistent cookie that is functional
You come to our website on Monday and spend time researching how to become a student. You leave our site and return later that week. You see a box on the homepage that points you back to the application resources you were researching earlier in the week.
Example of a third party, persistent cookie that is functional
You come to our website on Monday and log-in to Buckeyelink from your desktop. You access resources on BuckeyeLink that are intended for faculty and staff. When you return to the Ohio State homepage later that week, you notice that you no longer see messages intended for prospective students, but instead news and information for faculty and staff.
Example of a third party, persistent cookie that is an advertising cookie
You are browsing our website and find information about attending an event. You aren’t sure you want to register yet, so you leave our site. Later that day, while you’re browsing Facebook, you see an ad about that event.
Ways to Manage Cookies
Internet browsers have privacy settings where you may opt out of cookies across all the sites you visit. Visit your browsers’ help section to learn more. If you disable all cookies, the Ohio State site may not function as you expect.
Updates to How Ohio State Uses Cookies
If our cookie practices change, we will update this web page. If we make a material change, we’ll post the changes right here and notify you before we make the change.
Cookie Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
What does the cookie banner look like?
Ohio State collects consent based on your IP location. If you visit Ohio State web pages from the European Union you will receive a GDPR-compliant experience (affirmative, opt-in consent).
When you click on the "Remove cookie settings" button, you will see the Privacy Preference Center where you can opt in or opt out from cookie type:
When you click on the cookie types in the left navigation bar, you will see the option to opt in or opt out of a specific cookie type. You may choose to allow all cookies or you can review each cookie category. Use the sidebar menu in the Privacy Preference Center to review each cookie category. You may choose to allow cookies in one or more categories depending on your location. To do this, toggle the on/off icon and click the “Confirm my choices” button at the bottom.
How can I see which cookies are being used in each category?
In the Privacy Preference Center, you can use the sidebar menu to view individual cookies by category. To see individual cookies, choose the category you are interested in, then click “Cookies Details.” This will allow you to view and review a list of specific cookies organized by source domain (the domain that set the cookie).
Here is what you will see when clicking on "Cookie Details":
When will I see the cookie banner?
You will see a cookie banner when you first visit an Ohio State website on which we have deployed the cookie banner. The cookie banner will be deployed across non-authenticated Ohio State websites. Once you have reviewed and accepted the desired cookies, you will not see the banner when you visit osu.edu sites.
You will also see a cookie banner when you first visit a website on which the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center has deployed the cookie banner. The medical center will deploy the cookie banner across non-authenticated Wexner Medical Center websites. Once you have reviewed and accepted desired cookies, you will not see the banner when you visit wexnermedical.osu.edu sites.
What should I do when I receive the cookie banner?
You have three choices when you receive the cookie banner:
- Select “Review cookie settings” to open the Privacy Preference Center, then select and confirm your cookie choices.
- Select “Accept all cookies” or “Accept cookies.” European Union visitors will receive a GDPR-compliant experience.
- Close the cookie banner to accept cookies and review. You can change your cookie settings later by clicking the "Cookie Settings" button in the website footer.
What choices do I have?
If you access Ohio State web pages from the European Union you will receive a GDPR-compliant experience (affirmative, opt-in consent). You can choose to:
- Accept all cookies
- Accept Performance cookies
- Accept Functional cookies
- Accept Targeting cookies
If you access Ohio State web pages from any location outside of the European Union you will receive a general cookie acceptance that is also CCPA compliant (implied, opt-out consent). You can choose to:
- Accept cookies
- Turn off Targeting cookies
In what situations will I not see the cookie banner?
There are a few reasons you may not see the cookie banner. You will not see it if:
- You have already accepted cookies by clicking on “Accept cookies” or by closing the cookie banner without reviewing the message.
- You are working on a site that Ohio State has protected by Web Single Sign-on or you are using an application at Ohio State, such as my.osu.edu.
- You set your browser’s privacy settings to opt out of cookies across all the sites you visit.
- You are visiting a site that is a service or company outside of Ohio State. The service or company sets its own rules regarding privacy and cookie statements which may differ from Ohio State’s policies.
Will the cookie banner pop-up every time I visit an Ohio State website? Why is the cookie banner displaying again when I have already accepted cookies?
No, once you made your cookie selections, you will not see it again except in limited situations:
- You cleared your browser’s cookies.
- You are using a new browser.
- It has been more than a year since you responded to the cookie banner.
- You are using incognito mode on your browser.
- We have updated or changed cookie settings or terms and are offering you an opportunity to view the revisions.
Will I have to dismiss the cookie banner before I can see website content?
Although you can visit sites without closing the banner, Ohio State believes in transparency and compliant user experiences. Therefore, we ask you to respond to the cookie banner before you move further through a website. Visitors outside of the European Union who simply close the banner or do not respond will have all cookies enabled by default.
How can I review or change my cookie preferences if I accepted cookies?
To review your choices and update consent, use the cookie settings button in the footer of any osu.edu website that is using the cookie banner.
Where can I find Ohio State’s Web Privacy Statement?
Ohio State’s web privacy statement is located on the Privacy web page. Ohio State includes a link to the privacy web page in the website footers of osu.edu websites that have deployed the cookie banner.
Are there additional ways to manage cookies?
Yes, internet browsers have privacy settings that enable you to opt out of cookies across all the sites you visit. Visit your browser’s help section to learn more. If you disable all cookies, some features of Ohio State sites may not function as you expect.
Who can I contact if I have questions?
Call the IT Service Desk at (614) 688-4357 (HELP) or email itservicedesk@osu.edu.
Date: April 25, 2024
Ohio State Privacy Team
privacy@osu.edu