<![CDATA[General Background Higher education institutions require adaptive human resource management to meet escalating global demands. Specific Background Compensatory services and administrative decentralization are pivotal for directing staff motivation and institutional efficiency. Knowledge Gap Limited empirical research investigates the integrative relationship between these dimensions within specialized science colleges in Iraq. Aims This study explores how compensation and empowerment predict motivation and commitment among personnel at the College of Science, University of Al-Qadisiyah. Results A survey of 120 staff reveals both human resource practices positively associate with occupational motivation. Notably, administrative empowerment is a significantly stronger predictor of organizational commitment than compensation. Affective commitment forms the primary bond, while indirect material compensation scored highest among rewards. Novelty This research provides a validated empirical model bridging compensation, empowerment, and psychological motivation to explain institutional allegiance in a localized academic setting. Implications University leaders must prioritize administrative decentralization and link material rewards to transparent performance criteria to secure sustained academic excellence. Highlights: Administrative empowerment predicts institutional allegiance more strongly than monetary rewards. Affective commitment forms the primary psychological bond for university personnel. Decentralized operational authority directly drives motivation and sustained institutional efficiency. Keywords: Administrative Empowerment, Compensatory Services, Occupational Motivation, Organizational Commitment, Higher Education]]>
