Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XII Chapter 75
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 75, § 1 (2026)

Status; governing body

✓ current as of July 2026
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[ Text of section effective until November 25, 2025. For text effective November 25, 2025, see below.]

  Section 1. There shall be a University of Massachusetts, consisting of campuses to be maintained at Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and Worcester, which shall continue as a public institution of higher learning within the system of public higher education and shall be governed by the board of trustees established herein. In addition to the authority, responsibility, powers and duties specifically conferred by this chapter, the board of trustees shall have all 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powers and duties said board shall not in the management of the affairs of the university be subject to, or superseded by, any other state agency, board, bureau, commission, department or officer, except as provided in section 14A of chapter 6A, sections 44 to 58, inclusive, of chapter 7C, chapter fifteen, chapter fifteen A or in this chapter. This chapter shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.

Chapter 75: Section 1. Status; governing body

[ Text of section as amended by 2025, 73, Sec. 25 effective November 25, 2025. For text effective until November 25, 2025, see above.]

  Section 1. There shall be a University of Massachusetts, consisting of campuses to be maintained at Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and Worcester, which shall continue as a public institution of higher learning within the system of public higher education and shall be governed by the board of trustees established herein. In addition to the authority, responsibility, powers and duties specifically conferred by this chapter, the board of trustees shall have all 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powers and duties said board shall not in the management of the affairs of the university be subject to, or superseded by, any other state agency, board, bureau, commission, department or officer, except as provided in section 14A of chapter 6A, sections 44 to 57, inclusive, of chapter 7C, chapter fifteen, chapter fifteen A or in this chapter. This chapter shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases, 1975–2016 · leading case: United States v. Univ. of Massachusetts, 812 F.3d 35 (1st Cir. 2016).
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United States v. Univ. of Massachusetts, 812 F.3d 35 (1st Cir. 2016). “” Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 75, § 1 . This public institution has several campuses, including “a medical school to be known as the University of Massachusetts medical school.”
Daniel v. Am. Bd. of Emergency Med., 988 F. Supp. 127 (W.D.N.Y. 1997). · cites it 3× “” Mass.Gen.L. ch. 75, § 1 (West 1994). 46 The university is governed by a board of nineteen voting trustees, seventeen of whom are appointed by the governor of Massachusetts to serve a five year term.”
Cameron Painting, Inc. v. Univ. of Massachusetts, 983 N.E.2d 1210 (Mass. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 4× “* * 3 In support of its claim, Cameron argues the broad powers granted to the University under G.”
Bulger v. Contributory Ret. Appeal Bd., 856 N.E.2d 799 (Mass. 2006). “See G. L. c. 75, §§ 1, 11, 14. We also note that G.”
Brasi Dev. Corp. v. Attorney Gen., 925 N.E.2d 826 (Mass. 2010). · cites it 2× “In February and March of 2008, the university, a division of the publicly-funded University of Massachusetts system, see G. L. c. 75, § 1, issued an RFP for the lease of a student dormitory in the city of Lowell (city) to provide housing for 120 to 400 students.”
Robinson v. Commonwealth, 584 N.E.2d 636 (Mass. App. Ct. 1992). “G. L. c. 75, § 1. The University also has significant connections to the Commonwealth.”
Ali v. Carnegie Inst. of Washington, 967 F. Supp. 2d 1367 (D. Or. 2013). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 75, § 1 (creating UMass “as a public institution of higher learning”).”
Baum Rsch. & Dev. Co. v. Univ. of Massachusetts at Lowell, 503 F.3d 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2007). “The University claimed immunity as an arm of the state, and Baum does not dispute that status as a state entity was created by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 75, § 1 (“The state university shall be the University of Massachusetts .”
Hannigan v. New Gamma-Delta Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Inc., 327 N.E.2d 882 (Mass. 1975). “The judge ruled, in substance, and we think correctly, that the trustees are one and the same party, namely the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since the action was not instituted against the trustees individually, but rather against the board as a statutory entity.”
Hannigan v. New Gamma-delta Chapter of Kappa S. Frat., 327 N.E.2d 882 (Mass. 1975). “The judge ruled, in substance, and we think correctly, that the trustees are one and the same party, namely the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since the action was not instituted against the trustees individually, but rather against the board as a statutory entity.”
Vembu v. Univ. of Massachusetts, 9 Mass. L. Rptr. 211 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1998). · cites it 6× “According to G.L.c. 75, §1, the University is to be governed by a board of trustees (“the Board”).”
Ali v. Carnegie Inst. of Washington (D.D.C. 2013). “See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 75, § 1 (creating UMass “as a public institution of higher learning”).”
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