(a) No honorary degree shall be conferred by the Board of Regents on behalf of the University of the State of New York except by three-quarters vote of the Regents by ballot at a regular meeting, on a candidate recommended therefor at a previous meeting.

(b) Any institution of higher education authorized to award any earned baccalaureate or higher degree, which holds an absolute charter or the equivalent thereof, and which is accredited by an accrediting association recognized by the United States Office of Education, may confer any registered honorary degree.

(c) The board of trustees of any community college may confer any registered honorary associate degree.