Cuomo met with the SUNY Board of Trustee members ahead of the vote to ask that they put new policies in place.
Cuomo is calling for mandatory sensitivity training for all state university staff members.
Officials say that staff are having problems identifying possible sex assault victims and that some crimes have not been taken seriously.
"There has been an epidemic of sexual violence in this country that is truly disturbing and is inarguable," he said.
Cuomo urged the members to create a uniform definition of consent, and to not punish victims or witnesses for violating campus drug and alcohol rules.
The board voted unanimously in favor of crafting the policy and now has 60 days to formulate and approve an actual policy.
Cuomo said the policy should be implemented "as quickly as we can do it."
Famed sex crimes prosecutor Linda Fairstein will oversee its implementation.