When a user first visits our site, we drop a cookie on to their browser. If they reached the site via an affiliate link, the cookie that's dropped will remember this information.
When the student creates an account for our site they will have the referrer code attached to their user profile if the cookie is present. Any future purchases for all time by this student will be credited to the affiliate.
If by chance the user visits our site but doesn't sign up right away, the cookie will last for 30 days. If the user clears their cookies or uses a different browser the cookie will be lost.
Clarity: the cookie from the first visit must be present when the student signs up or purchases a product in order for the affiliate to receive credit. Once the student signs up and the association is established on the user's profile, the cookie is redundant and the affiliate will receive credit for any future purchases. If a student that comes through an affiliate link does not sign up or purchase within 30 days, but comes back after 30 days to sign up or purchase the affiliate is not credited any commission.
If a student coming to our site via an affiliate link had previously created an account or made a purchase, before clicking on the affiliate link, any new purchases made will not be associated with the affiliate. This is true regardless of whether or not the student was previously associated to any affiliate or not. If they had previously made an account they cannot be counted toward a new affiliate.