SDI Success Indicators:

Success Indicator	Rate
Average Completion/Graduation Rate	89%
Students Surveyed who said they achieved their learning Goals	99%
Students Surveyed who would recommend SDI to a friend	100%
Students Surveyed who were satisfied with their studies	100%

Information reported is for the calendar year 2010 and reported in 2011 to DETC for the annual report to the Accrediting Commission. 221 Students were surveyed of which 112 or 51% replied [a statistically valid sample]

Certification and Licensure Requirements:

No representation, warranty, or guarantee that successful completion of the course of study will permit the learner to obtain licensure or certification. Learners, who enroll in an SDI program in a field for which professional practice requires any type of licensure or certification, are solely responsible for determining and complying with state, local, or professional licensure and certification requirements. These learners are also responsible for taking the steps necessary to satisfy those requirements.

General Information on Credit Transfer:

We hope your current Sonoran Desert Institute course will fulfill your educational objectives. However, if your educational objectives change during your present enrollment, you may feel that a different course may better suit your needs. If so, let us know, and we’ll make the best possible course transfer arrangements for you.

Decisions concerning the acceptance of credits by any institution other than the granting institution are made at the sole discretion of the receiving institution. The Sonoran Desert Institute makes no representation whatsoever concerning the transferability of any credits to any institution.

Students considering continuing their education at, or transferring to other institutions of higher education must not assume that credits at this school will be accepted by the receiving institution. An institution's accreditation does not guarantee that credits earned at that institution would be accepted for transfer by any other institution. Students must contact the registrar of the receiving institution to determine what credits, if any, that institution will accept.

SDI Policy for Accepting Transfer Credit:

The Sonoran Desert Institute will accept up to 75% of program content for certificate, diploma and associate degree programs in transfer, under the following conditions:

• The student must have achieved a passing grade of “C” or better, 2.0 on a four (4) point grading scale. Proof of academic achievement must be submitted via official transcripts from the institution awarding the credit hours. A transcript copy may be submitted for initial application review, however the official transcript must be received prior to completion of the first semester in order for credit to be awarded in transfer.

• A student wishing to receive credit for coursework taken at another institution must contact the SDI registrar prior to application and request a “Transfer of Credit and Evaluation of Coursework” form. This form outlines the procedure and required documentation for submitting the request.

• Should transfer of credit be awarded, tuition adjustments will be made accordingly based on the number of transfer credits allowed/approved. Tuition adjustments will be made at a rate of fifty-percent (50%) to cover cost of reviewing credits for acceptance.

• Currently, SDI does not grant credit hours for experiential learning [i.e., life experience, employment, and so forth.]

Note to Applicants: Credits must have been earned at an accredited institution. Accredited means accredited by an agency that is recognized by the U.S Department of Education as an accrediting commission. No exceptions to this will be allowed.

Credit Hours Defined:

Semester credit hours are the equivalent to those commonly accepted and traditionally defined units of academic measurement in accredited institutions. SDI degree or academic credit-bearing courses are normally measured by the learning outcomes normally achieved through 45 hours of study [one credit/semester hour]. This formula is used by the American Council on Education in its Credit Recommendation Evaluative Criteria, which states, “normally, academic credit is assigned on the basis of one semester credit hour for each 15 classroom contact hours plus 30 hours of outside preparation or equivalent.” Here at SDI, this means that for every hour of lesson material included in your course, we anticipate that a student will spend at least two (2) hours of additional time engaged in outside preparation, study, or research and/or the equivalent activity to mater the subject material appropriately.

Veterans Benefits and Forms:

Eligible veterans may obtain the appropriate forms here. If you have questions, please contact the SDI admissions Office, or download the SDI Veterans’ Bulletin.

Arizona Student Loan Code of Conduct:

The Arizona Attorney General has asked all Licensed institutions to voluntarily agree to a Code of Conduct that outlines how schools and colleges will conduct themselves with respect to student loans and financial aid. SDI has agreed to follow this policy, and in the spirit of fair and appropriate consumer practices provides a copy for public review. Please click here for a copy of the Arizona Student Loan Code of Conduct.

Policy on Student Conduct:

Please click here for our Policy on Student Conduct.