admission representative

content marketer

enrollment advisor

college advisor

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Sonoran Desert Institute

I worked for Sonora for over a year. When I started the requirements were reasonable and, while the pay was low, it was interesting work so I didn't mind it. As I continued to teach, they seemed to keep adding more responsibilities to the point where the per hourly rate was ridiculously low. 
They also assign someone to oversee your work. They "grade" various categories and provide an overall summary of your output. The issue I ran into was if I made a mistake in week 2, it might not be noted but later in week 5 it would be indicated as as a repeated problem. This happened on more than one occasion and was very frustrating as I was still "learning the ropes" and just needed someone to point me in the right direction. The individual I was assigned to work with was also difficult to reach when I asked why the mistake wasn't noted in week two but was considered a problem in week 5. 
There are many requirements pertaining to this position and you will spend many hours on your computer assessing work, responding to discussions, etc. and, at a certain point, you will probably find the time spent isn't worth the money or satisfaction.

There is a limit as to what you can and cannot state on this website so my recommendation is that you conduct your research and look for other websites where employees and former employees can post complete reviews. The most popular of those other websites allows employees and former employees to post truthful reviews, often scathing in nature, and this is what you need to read.  

I worked at Sonoran Desert Institute over a year. The leadership team of this academic institution does not hold doctorate degrees and most do not hold prior higher education experience. Someone was recently promoted to an advanced leadership position with an associate's degree. Someone else was promoted with a degree in geology. 

Academic standards, such as "substantive interaction between instructors and students" (as required by the DEAC) is not upheld, which means instructors do not participate in class discussions and provide little to no feedback for assignments. This school is still operating as a correspondence school and the owners just sold it. I have nothing positive to state about this online firearms school.

I came from a background of in-person teaching so a course completely online was new to me. SDI, however, was very patient and professional giving me the tools to succeed. I like the flexibility of their courses. They work well with my schedule. The course discussion boards, quizzes, and homework following each chapter are very well detailed.

Not only does SDI want instructors to succeed, but equally important is providing the tools for students to further their careers in firearm technology. SDI provides students with well-organized course guidelines from start to finish. Knowing this upfront helps students budget their course and life responsibilities more efficiently. SDI provides all relevant materials in the form of textbooks, online resources, resource papers, and student support.

I've worked for SDI longer than most of the staff.    I've seen SDI change and evolve and largely for the better.  Education is changing, even traditional state funded schools have migrated heavily to online student presence, and SDI has a unique faculty who are very knowledgeable in their fields of expertise.  I have never had a bad experience with a fellow employee and I have found people very reasonable in resolving situations which do arise.  I know from first hand experience the management team values your input and opinion when tackling issues which can and do arise.  

Personalized and rewarding experience teaching Business Math for Sonoran Desert Institute.  I enjoy working with the students and providing assistance and guidance as they complete their course.  

I typically open up my email in the morning and check for any updates or email from my students.  I check with the Institute for any new announcements and/or new students. 

I always check my grade book in the morning to see how students are progressing and contact students, congratulating them on a test well done or offering assistance if they have scored lower than 70%.  

I have received wonderful email from students once they have completed the course!

If you like never being right, getting called names, working in a hostile work environment, working with a horrible online system, working with fake people, getting different messages by the same person, working for people that have no education, but educate others; then this is the place for you. The Director, and everyone that is full time is a director or above, is an aggressive person that finds joy in being difficult to others. The students think they should walk in and get an A for breathing, do not want to learn, know it all and do not treat this like a higher education. Having said that, it isn't. Most of the staff does not have an education and think they are teaching at Harvard instead of an ONLINE gunsmith degree program.

Everyone I've encountered has contributed significant value in their respective roles and genuinely cares about others. I've gained a deeper understanding of the military and veteran experience, as well as the critical importance of each department in supporting the overall educational journey. The leadership team is diverse, fun, and compassionate, always striving to do what's best for everyone. I've appreciated the freedom to express creativity while making meaningful contributions to my department. The most challenging aspect has been navigating the multiple steps and communications required to implement or modify policies and guidelines.

SDI truly cares about their employees. They strive for a work/life balance. The management team is attentive to all employees. SDI's culture is like no other place that I have worked. They truly mean it when they say "we are a family." The president is a leader for the people. SDI is supportive of your growth. Everyone is one big team. Everyone's opinions and ideas matter from the lowest one on the totem poll all the way to senior leadership. They truly want what is best for the employees and students. The only improvement from an employee standpoint is the ability to earn more time off and compensation to align with today's market for current employees. 

I was a student first and graduated with honors in the Associate's Degree Program.  After I made a few holsters, built a couple rifles and a black powder rifle, I looked at the job market in my local area.  I am retired military and I felt that teaching the courses that I took was a way to give back to help foster a great resource for the Pro 2nd Amendment and individuals that are interested in the gun world.  Sonoran Desert Institute is a great place to start and get your feet wet and learn new skills and gain a working knowledge of firearm specific courses.

SDI is an online degree program that offers Associates degrees in firearms and drone technology. I teach a upper level machining and manufacturing course that helps students learn machining basics and specific operations on firearms. Enjoy working with the students and helping them learn, to write coherently and with a message, and them teaching me what they have learned in previous courses. The students are motivated and most are budding entrepreneurs. Good job, good work, good faculty.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Admission representative 5 salaries reported	$55,000 per year
Content marketer 18 salaries reported	$41,000 per year
Enrollment advisor 7 salaries reported	$50,000 per year
College advisor 3 salaries reported	$50,500 per year
Career coach 1 salary reported	$52,500 per year

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