A case study is presented of the planning of a merger of two public institutions in Nashville, Tennessee, in which a federal judge ordered predominantly white University of Tennessee at Nashville to merge with predominantly black Tennessee State University. This action represents the first time a white university has merged with a black one, with the black school being the surviving institution. The historical events that resulted in the court-ordered merger are summarized and the constitutional issues in question are analyzed in detail. A merger plan developed for planning and implementing the merger of the two institutions is also examined. The court allowed two years for the planning of the merger. Some of the unresolved issues facing the two schools as they move closer toward the actual merger on July 1, 1979 are reviewed, and the possible long-range concerns of Tennessee State University relative to its role, mission, and organizational structure are examined. An analysis is also presented of possible implications that the merger will have on other predominantly black institutions of higher education. (Author/SW)