This study explored a context-embedded concept of politeness in a discussion-type, multicultural university classroom. The graduate-level class, Language Planning, had 33 students from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Looking below the surface of specific classroom incidents, situated on the politeness-impoliteness continuum, the research identified seven infrastructures: (1) Contribution; (2) Relevance; (3) Authority; (4) Mind; (5) Turn-Taking; (6) Quantity; and (7) Demeanor. These infrastructures constantly and interactively create the dynamics of academic politeness. (Contains 5 endnotes and 27 references.) (Author/SLD)