Cuomo operations director Jim Malatras announced in March the state’s plan to " appoint a management organization expert” to find and correct inefficiencies in the City University of New York administration. “The management consultant, we’re going to pick that person shortly, we’ll put together a comprehensive plan... and propose reform for the next year,” Malatras said at a press conference.

Following a strong reaction to the targeting of CUNY funding, Cuomo expanded his criticism to SUNY — he said CUNY and SUNY were " two really big bureaucracies.”

Asked this week, with the start of a new academic year nearing, whether the expert had been appointed, representatives of both university systems referred POLITICO New York to Cuomo’s office.

“The governor’s office would be the best source for you,” said SUNY’s Holly Liapis.

“We’re going to refer you up to ... the governor’s office,” said CUNY’s Mike Arena.

Dani Lever, a Cuomo spokeswoman, would not say whether someone has been hired.

“SUNY and CUNY are working on plans to find efficiencies in their systems and direct savings back to the students, faculty, and classrooms, and we look forward to seeing their proposed changes,” she said in a statement.

Cuomo made the proposal during budget negotiations, having initially proposed a $485 million “cost-shift” in CUNY senior college operating costs from the state to the city. That proposal was not enacted.

Since the budget’s passage in the spring, there have also been major leadership changes at both university systems. Longtime CUNY board chairman Benno Schmidt has been succeeded by Cuomo nominee Bill Thompson. And SUNY chancellor Nancy Zimpher also announced her intention to resign next spring.

Arena, the CUNY spokesman, said in an emailed statement that “CUNY is currently working on a new Master Plan and Strategic Plan for the next few years, which will include the University’s goals and strategies as well as plans to support them. We are committed to financial planning that includes, in addition to state and city support, cost effective shared services, management efficiencies, private fundraising and reallocation of resources to support our students. "

UPDATE: Following the publication of this story, CUNY and the governor’s office told POLITICO New York that the university has hired McKinsey & Company, the consulting firm, to find cost savings. Neither Arena nor Lever immediately replied to inquiries for details about the McKinsey contract. Liapis said that SUNY has not hired McKinsey.