SECTION 31A. Awarding of degrees and courses leading to award of degrees; necessity of authorization

An educational institution chartered, located, offering courses or otherwise doing business within the commonwealth shall not award degrees within the commonwealth unless authorized or approved to do so by the commonwealth.

An educational institution chartered, incorporated or organized in another state shall not conduct within the commonwealth courses available to residents of the commonwealth that lead to the award of a degree unless the educational institution has received the authorization of the commonwealth for such courses; provided, however, that authorization may be granted by the board of higher education through the board of higher education's participation in an interstate reciprocity agreement under section 9 of chapter 15A. The board of higher education shall be responsible for the implementation of this section.