Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the country have begun to implement intervention programs, such as summer bridge programs, to address potential gaps and aid students in their academic persistence, as Black students continuously persist to graduation at lower rates. However, many programs lack a way to objectively measure indicators of success for minority students. Additionally, instruments normed on minority populations are not readily available or easily accessible. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to develop new instruments that directly measure student perceptions of key constructs related to preparedness for post-secondary academic success objectively. Further, the investigation was designed to incorporate psychometric strategies for measuring perceptions based on key constructs associated with student retention. The current research focused on the evaluation of psychometric properties of two new 30-item instruments. The new instruments measuring the constructs of effective learning strategies and coping and social adjustment were developed for and examined with a minority population. Specifically, the new instruments were administered at a bridge program for conditionally admitted first-year students at an HBCU. Results of tests of reliability and validity yielded acceptable values and model fit indices, respectively. Overall, findings demonstrate the usefulness of the new instruments with minority populations. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]