Cookie Notice

Last updated: October 2025

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, tablet, phone) when you visit a website. They help websites remember your preferences, understand how you use the site, and improve your experience.

This Cookie Notice explains what cookies and similar technologies (like local storage) Course Mapper uses, why we use them, and how you can control them.

2. Cookies We Use

2.1 Essential Cookies (Always Active)

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be disabled.

Cookie NamePurposeDuration
cm_consentStores your cookie consent preferences1 year
cm_selected_schoolRemembers your selected university1 year
admin_tokenAdmin authentication sessionSession

2.2 Analytics Cookies (Optional)

These cookies help us understand how visitors use the site so we can improve it. You can opt out via our consent banner.

Google Analytics 4

Tracks page views, navigation patterns, and user interactions.

Cookie NamePurposeDuration
_gaDistinguishes unique users2 years
_ga_*Session state and analytics data2 years
_gidDistinguishes users (short-term)24 hours

Statsig

Feature usage tracking, A/B testing, and session replay for UX improvement.

Cookie NamePurposeDuration
statsig_*Anonymous user ID and feature flags1 year

Vercel Analytics

Performance monitoring and visitor analytics.

Cookie NamePurposeDuration
__vercel_*Analytics and speed insights1 year

2.3 Advertising Cookies (Optional)

These cookies enable personalized advertising and measure ad performance. You can opt out via our consent banner.

Google AdSense

Displays relevant ads and tracks ad impressions/clicks.

Cookie NamePurposeDuration
__gadsAd targeting and frequency capping13 months
__gpiAd performance measurement13 months
DSIDIdentifies users across sites (DoubleClick)2 weeks
IDEAd personalization and retargeting13 months

Learn more: Google Ads Privacy

3. Local Storage

In addition to cookies, we use browser local storage to save:

  • Course exploration history: Recently viewed courses for quick navigation
  • UI preferences: Zoom level, minimap visibility, theme settings
  • Cookie consent: Your analytics and advertising preferences

Local storage persists until you clear your browser data and is not transmitted to our servers.

4. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies are set by third-party services we use (Google, Statsig, Vercel). We do not control these cookies. Each service has its own privacy policy:

5. How to Manage Cookies

5.1 Cookie Consent Banner

When you first visit Course Mapper, you'll see a cookie consent banner. You can:

  • Accept All: Enable all cookies (analytics and advertising)
  • Decline Optional: Only use essential cookies
  • Customize: Choose which categories to enable

You can change your preferences anytime by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in our footer.

5.2 Browser Settings

Most browsers let you control cookies through settings:

Note: Blocking essential cookies may prevent parts of the site from working properly.

5.3 Opt Out of Personalized Ads

To opt out of personalized advertising:

6. Impact of Disabling Cookies

If you disable cookies:

  • Essential cookies disabled: The site may not function properly (e.g., can't remember your selected school)
  • Analytics cookies disabled: We can't improve the site based on usage patterns, but functionality is unaffected
  • Advertising cookies disabled: You'll still see ads, but they won't be personalized

7. Updates to This Notice

We may update this Cookie Notice as we add new features or comply with evolving regulations. Check the "Last updated" date at the top to see when changes were made.

8. Questions?

For questions about cookies or data privacy, see our Privacy Policy or contact us via our contact form.

CourseMapper, operated by Deckhand Software, Ontario, Canada