I found these tidbits under UIC for the admission process and unsure what it means for everyone but at least there's a process:
Departmental Review
After all Admissions requirements are satisfied, application records are referred to the program for their review, though programs may have already begun their review by that time. Admissions and program staff are able to access application materials after they are submitted. Applications are typically reviewed in the order they are received.
The time that it takes for an application to go through the review process varies by program. After the program has completed their review of an application, they communicate their admission recommendations and denials to Admissions and we update the official record after a final quick review. Some programs communicate their decisions to Admissions continually throughout the cycle while others do so in bursts. Ultimately, it depends on the timeline and approach each program takes for their review.
Graduate College Review
In certain cases where minimum requirements are not met or additional approval is needed, applications recommended for admission by Graduate College programs may need to undergo an additional review by the Graduate College. The Graduate College may decide to uphold the program's admission recommendation or, in certain cases, deny the application.