The combination of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) and Rutgers University in 2013 is the largest higher education merger in U.S. history. Based on extensive interviews with participants and archival research, we analyze factors that accelerated or decelerated the integration of the two universities over the period 2012-2018. This integration highlights the importance of balancing standardization with recognition of the distinctions between units, and helping people to form a shared identity in the combined organization.