In a process for the homogeneous polymerization of water insoluble polymers containing greater than 50% by weight of monomers selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 acrylate or methacrylate esters, N-substituted acryl or methacrylamides and mixtures thereof in substantially non-aqueous organic solutions, the improvement which comprises using as the polymerization initiator a water soluble initiator dissolved in sufficient amount of water to dissolve the initiator whereby the resultant polymer is characterized by lower residual monomer levels than are obtained using equivalent amounts of water-insoluble initiators.
