Cookie Policy

Please read the following carefully to understand how The College of Geosciences at Texas A&M University (“TAMU Geoscience”, “we”, or “us”) uses Cookies when you visit our websites (“Sites”). By using or accessing our Sites, you agree to this Cookie Policy. This Cookie Policy may change from time to time and your continued use of the Sites is deemed to be acceptance of such changes. Please check this Cookie Policy periodically for updates.

What are Cookies?

Cookies, pixel tags and similar technologies (collectively "Cookies") are files containing small amounts of information which are stored by your browser on any Internet-enabled device – such as your computer, smart phone, or tablet – when you visit a website. Most web pages contain elements from multiple web domains so when you visit our Sites, your browser may receive Cookies from several sources.

Cookies are then sent back to the originating website on each subsequent visit, or to another website that recognizes that cookie. Cookies do lots of different and useful jobs, such as remembering your actions and preferences (such as login, language, font size and other display preferences), distinguishing you from other users of the Sites, generally improving your online experience, and helping us to offer you the best product and services. We use Cookies and other technologies to ensure visitors to our Sites have the best possible experience and to provide targeted advertising.

There are many different types of Cookies. For a detailed list of Cookies used on our Sites, please refer to the section below on What types of Cookies do we use?

How you can control or delete Cookies

We provide you with several ways to manage Cookies:

  • You can refuse to provide your consent to our collection of non-essential Cookies;
  • You can disable first- or third-party Cookies by use of your browser settings;
  • You can use opt-out tools provided by the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA), European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA), or National Advertising Initiative (NAI).

Our performance, functionality and targeting/advertising Cookies are not strictly necessary for the Sites to work but will provide you with a better browsing experience. You can delete or block these Cookies, but if you do this, you may have to manually adjust some preferences every time you visit the Sites and some features of the Sites may not work as intended. For example, you may not be able to visit certain areas of the Sites or you may not receive personalized information when you visit our Sites.

Control via your browser settings

Most internet browsers are initially set up to automatically accept Cookies. If you do not want our website to store Cookies on your computer or device, you can change or adjust your browser or device settings to block Cookies or to alert you when Cookies are being sent to your device.

If you use different devices to view and access our Sites (e.g. your computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.) you will need to ensure that each browser on each device is adjusted to suit your Cookie preferences.

The procedures for changing your settings and Cookies differ from browser to browser. If necessary, use the help function on your browser or click on one of the links below to go directly to the user manual for your browser.

More info. To find out more about Cookies, including how to see what Cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, visit www.aboutcookies.org or www.allaboutcookies.org.

Additional Mechanisms for Exercising Choice

We, or other parties we do business with, may place or recognize unique Cookies or other technologies placed on your browser when you visit our Sites to collect information about your use of the website and your other online activities over time and across different websites and apps, and may use that information to serve interest-based advertisements to you as you browse the Internet.

To learn more about your choices for receiving interest-based advertising or to opt-out, please review the information below:

  • DAA: To opt-out of such collection and use for interest-based advertising by the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) participating companies, please visit: DAA's website.
  • EDAA: To opt-out from the use of information about your online activities for interest-based advertising by European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance (EDAA) member companies, please visit: EDAA's website.
  • NAI: To opt-out from the use of information about your online activities for interest-based advertising by Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) member companies, please visit: NAI's website.

Please note that even if you opt-out, you may still receive TAMU Geosciences that are not customized based on Cookies.

Types of Cookies Used by TAMU Geosciences

We use different types of Cookies to run our Sites. Some or all of the Cookies identified below may be stored in your browser.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Cookies Used

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  • _vjs_ses
  • ajs_user_id
  • ajs%3Acookies
  • ajs_group_id
  • ajs_anonymous_id
  • ajs%3Atest
  • OptanonConsent
  • OptanonAlertBoxClosed
  • _dc_gtm_UA-34727164-8
  • _dc_gtm_UA-117263828-2

Performance Cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.

Cookies Used

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  • _gid
  • _ga
  • _gat_UA-117263828-1

Functional Cookies

These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.

Targeting Cookies

These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Many of the Cookies placed through our Sites are session Cookies, while others are persistent Cookies, and some are “first-party” Cookies, while others are “third-party” Cookies.

  • First-party Cookies are those set by a site that is being visited by the user at the time (e.g., Cookies placed by www.geosonline.tamu.edu).
  • Third-party Cookies are Cookies that are set by a domain other than that of the site being visited by the user. For example, when a user visits a site and a cookie set on that site by a third-party fires, it transfers information to the user's web browser, where it might be stored or sent back with the next request to the same server. Cookies that are sent through these third-party components are called third-party cookies and are mainly used for advertising and tracking across the web.
  • Persistent Cookies are Cookies that remain on a user’s device for the period of time specified in the cookie. They are activated each time that the user visits the site that created that particular cookie.
  • Session Cookies are Cookies that allow website operators to link the actions of a user during a browser session. A browser session starts when a user opens the browser window and finishes when they close the browser window. Session Cookies are created temporarily. Once you close the browser, all session Cookies are deleted.

Google Analytics Cookies Our Sites use Google Analytics Cookies, which monitor traffic levels, search queries and visits to our Sites. These Cookies enable Google to determine whether you are a return visitor to the site and to track the pages that you visit during your session. For more information about Google Analytics Cookies, please see Google's privacy policy External link . Google has developed the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on for the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, dc.js).

Questions/Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Cookie Policy, please contact us at online-degree@tamu.edu.