Its stated aim is to give students a voice in Nova Scotia with government and the public, helping set the direction of post-secondary education by researching challenges, identifying solutions, and creating the political space needed for these solutions to happen.

At that time, students had identified an urgent need for a united voice in Nova Scotia, where they faced the highest tuition in Canada, underfunded universities, no needs-based grants, all leading to a steady decline in enrolment levels across the province.

[1] The new organization was formed to advocate on behalf of students with all levels of government, with institutions, in the media, and within Nova Scotia communities.

To better facilitate the use of these increased resources, in 2012 ANSSA also pursued significant restructuring, and renamed itself Students Nova Scotia.

On Friday February 27, 2015, the Dalhousie Student Union council passed a motion to disaffiliate from SNS.