I did a single semester with the SII program many years ago, cannot pass fair comment on it now. At the time pay was average for Dalian, (which is on the low side nationally), but in terms of students, colleagues and materials, a rather decent 2+2 joint program. Which for some might mean a pretty girl with a few warts, for others a dog in need (but not desperate need) of a flea bath. I left for a corporate gig (= more rmb), not because of the warts/fleas.
What I have heard, over the grapevine, (and as such this is completely unreliable), is that a great upheaval is taking place, and that a lot of people are leaving. Once the dust has settled it will be a very different program. But who, what, why, how, are all questions to ask someone else. I'm an outsider, and have been for a long time. Come to think of it, that's no doubt true for many of the people working there now. That's always been my take on teaching in China. We foreigners are always outside the loop, even when dealing with the foreign partner unis in England, the US, Aus, etc. We rely too heavily on the rumour mill because reliable info is so hard to come by.