We conducted a study of the effect of solvent quality on the kinetics of formation of a layer of polymer chains tethered to a solid substrate. In these experiments, tethering was accomplished by means of chemical bond formation between reactive sites on the surface and the end-functional groups of the polymer chains in solution. All experimental variables were held constant except for the chi-parameter between the polymer and solvent. Variation in the chi-parameter was achieved by use of a series of nonpolar, organic solvents. The distinct three-regime kinetics, typical of tethering reactions run in a good solvent and in the absence of segmental adsorption, was observed over the range of values for the chi-parameter. As expected, an increase in the chi-parameter (a decrease in solvent quality) did result in increased tethering density, but, contrary to expectation, no increase in tethering rate was observed. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.