Notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute or special act to the contrary, the selection, appointment, assignment of duties, amount of compensation, sick leave, vacation, leaves of absence, termination of service, rank and status of the individual members of the respective professional staffs of the system of higher education shall be under the sole jurisdiction of the respective boards of trustees within available funds. Each constituent board shall annually submit to the Commissioner of Administrative Services a list of the positions which it has included within the professional staff.