Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 74 § 42D
The Bradford Durfee College of Technology and the New Bedford Institute of Technology shall continue as state institutions within the department of education but not under its control and shall be governed by the boards of trustees established therefor under section twenty-one of chapter fifteen. In addition to the authority, responsibility, powers and duties specifically conferred by sections forty-two to forty-two C, inclusive, and by sections forty-two E to forty-six B, inclusive, the said boards of trustees shall have the authority, responsibility, rights, privileges, powers and duties customarily and traditionally exercised by governing boards of institutions of higher learning. In exercising such authority, responsibility, powers and duties said board shall not in the management of the affairs of said institutions be subject to, or superseded in any such authority by, any other state board, bureau, department or commission, except as herein provided.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 74, § 42D