The main objectives of the study were to determine: (1) the general status of predominantly black institutions in the total nationwide educational spectrum; (2) the historical information about Tennessee State University (TSU) and the University of Tennessee (UTN) pertinent to the dismantling controversy (Geier v. Dunn court case) in Nashville; (3) the plan being implemented in dealing with the dual system of public higher education in Nashville; (4) the general views of school administrators and state officials with regard to dismantling the dual system; and (5) the success of efforts to dismantle the dual system. It was found that the black colleges were rapidly losing status in the total nationwide educational spectrum and were educating a smaller percentage of college graduates than a few years ago. It was determined that there was no official plan for dealing with the dual system of public higher education in Nashville, and that school administrators and state officials did not have parallel views on dismantling. Most felt the dual system could not be handled adequately unless all higher education institutions in the state were equally involved. Follow-up studies are recommended. (Author/LBH)